^-"^li/^ s '^.c^^' ^'^m- K^ ■'^-. '-'^.''^^ \^ 'I o ^,- 9 ; ^,^' S^ •^. .^^ - -^^ V- '^ci? Oo^ ,-> ■ o- ^^ V 1 \ "^ ,. , ^^ -.-. C^^ .^' S «M,--i<0>Rt.. o "^.- v^' k^^ ^.' .^' ■>-^ 0^ X ' ^ \ K^ / %■ -^ ' '^ N ^' \-^^ .^' ' /, c- J -7* '- .^^ -s^ ^ ..*^ rf" o5 -^^ \'^' :^.% ■n;-' •'>•. .A^'■ .'i, ^ // '^-\.x<\-". % » x ° ,0 "^A <^ G 0- .0 N ^ A^ \> ^ ^ * " /■ > -^. c*^ ,'\' O^ / ■^^\ V ^„ ' // C' ' <3r- ^UAyiA^i^ I /v^uW^ rUydJxa:^ H SCHOOL LAWS COMMON SCHOOL DECISIONS STATE OF ILLINOIS. Peepaeed and Aeeanged by Newton Bateman, LL. I). Eevised by William L. Pillsbury, A. M. Eight Yeaes Assistant op Supeeintendent of ■ Public Insteuction. NOV ;'188/. ^4 c7, 'ASH SPRINGFIELD : Pillsbuey and Feeeman. 1887. Copyright, 1865, by Newton Bateman. Copyright, 1866, by Newton Bateman. Copyright, 1867, by Newton Bateman. Copyright, 1871, by Newton Bateman. Copyright, 1887, by Pillsburt and Freeman. Printed, Stereotyped and Bound by H. W. ROKKER, Springfield and Cliicago. PREFACE. During the eight years I was employed in the office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, I found Dr. Bateman's Common School Decisions an invaluable aid in determining the many school questions referred to the State Department. The book, having been published twenty years ago, had, how- ever, been rendered unsuitable for general use by the many changes which had been made in the law. In preparing this revision, the matter has been re-arranged, and a very large part of it has been re-written. The Preface to Dr. Bateman's last edition of the Decisions states the scope and aim of the book thus : "The object of this volume is to furnish to those in any way concerned with our system of common schools, in con- venient form and small compass, information and instruction necessary to the proper discharge of their duties. "The book contains : "I. The Common School Laws of the State, with all the latest amendments. "II. The Official Decisions and Instructions of the State Su- perintendent, and the Decisions of the Supreme Court, in re- lation to common schools. "The official decisions are confirmed by copious references to and citations of judicial authorities. To this end the Supreme Court Eeports of Illinois and of many other States have been carefully and exhaustively searched. It is hoped that this feature of the work [and the table of cases added] will render it of some value to members of the bar and others, in the management of cases arising under the school laws of the State. "The decisions embrace a wide range and great variety of subjects. It is believed that questions can hardly arise under our present school laws upon which some light, if not a defi- nite answer, will not be found in this volume. "Forms of all School Instruments are added for the conven- ience of school officers. Both the laws and decisions are very copiously indexed. The aim throughout has been to render the work a plain, practical and reliable common-school manual." The work of revision has been very carefully done with the same objects in view ; and my wish is that school officers and teachers and others interested in questions relating to the school laws and their administration, may find this as useful as were the former editions of the book. "W. L. PiLLSBUKY. Springfield, Nov. 1, 1887. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page. Educational peovisions in constitution, and comments 9 Syllabus of school laws 12 General school law as amended, with decisions 15 Additional acts, with decisions : Women as school ofl&cers 234 "Compulsory" education act 234 Eights of colored children 235 Eenting school lands 237 Granting right of way to railroads 237 Dedicating lands for streets 238 School districts legalized 238 Districts with four hundred inhabitants 239 Notice of payments to treasurer 239 Attendance upon institutes 240 County superintendent's bills audited and paid 241 President of board of education elected 241 Members of boards of education appointed 242 Members of boards of education elected 243 Loans of funds in special districts 244 School elections under law of 1885 244 County normal schools 246 Orders against uncollected taxes 247 Eefunding school bonds 248 Annual statements published by treasurers 249 EORMS OF official INSTRUMENTS 251 Calendar of elections and official duties 257 Table of cases cited 258 Inde:: 262 Advertisements, see front and back of book. SCHOOL LAWS AND OFFICIAL AND JUDICIAL DECISIONS. CONSTITUTIONAL PEOVISIONS WITH REGARD TO EDUCATION. The state constitutions of 1818 and 1848 made no reference to schools. The constitution of 1870 has the following: ARTICLE VIII — EDUCATION." General assembly to provide a system of free schools. Section 1. The general assembly shall provide a thorough and efficient system of free schools, whereby all children of this state may receive a good common school education, (a) (a) Common School Education. This article, while manda- tory in its character, is rather a limitation than a grant of power. It commands the general assembly to provide a sys- tem of schools, but subject to the two limitations, that the schools shall be "free schools," and that they shall offer the children of the state a "good common school education." The meaning of the term "common school education" has been much discussed. The supreme court holds that a common school is one which "begins with the rudimental elements of an education, whatever else it may embrace, as contradis- tinguished from academies or universities devoted exclusively to teaching advanced pupils in the classics and in the higher tranches of study usually included in the curriculum of the 10 CONSTITUTIONAL PEOVISIONS. college." The high school is held to be made lawfully a part of the school system. [Richards v. Raymond, 92 111., 612 ; Foivell V. Board of Education, 97 111., 375; Stuart v. School District, 30 Mich., 69.] Land, moneys and other property donated. § 2. All lands, moneys, or other property, donated, granted or received for school, college, seminary or university purposes, and the proceeds thereof, shall be faithfully applied to the objects for which such gifts or grants were made, (a) (a) Funds held hy the State in Trust. The funds referred to in Sec. 2, are those established out of the several grants and donations made by the general government to the state for educational purposes, and the additions that have been made to them from time to time. The grants were made to the state. The state has complete control over them, to ad- minister them as it pleases in promotion of the objects of the grants ; and for this the public faith of the state stands solemnly pledged. The grants may not be burdened or sub- jected to waste for any other public purpose by general or special taxation, including taxation for drainage purposes. [Greenleaf Y. Trustees, 22 111., 236; Chicago v. People, 80 111., 884; People v. Trustees, 118 111., 52; Univ. of Chicago v. People, 118 111., 555; Trustees PI. Industrial Univ. v. County of Cham- paign, 76 111., 184; §§ 66 and 68, School Law.] Appropriations for sectarian purposes forbidden. § 3. Neither the general assembly nor any county, city, town, township, school district, or other public corporation, shall ever make any appropriation or pay from any public fund whatever anything in aid of any church or sectarian purpose, or to help support or sustain any school, academy, seminary, college,- university or other literary or scientific institution con- trolled by any church or sectarian denomination whatever ; nor shall any grant or donation of land, money or other personal property ever be made by the state or any such public cor- poration to any church, or for any sectarian purpose. [Sec. 77, School Law.] Teachers and school ofiB.cers not to be interested in sale of books, etc. § 4. No teacher, state, county, township or district school officer shall be interested in the sale, pro- ceeds or profits of any book, apparatus or furniture used or to be used in any school in this state with which such officer or teacher may be connected, under such penalties as may be provided by the general assembly. [Sec. 77, School Laiv.] County superintendent of schools. § 5. There may be a county superintendent of schools in each county, whose qualifications, powers, duties, compensation and time and CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS. 11 manner of election, and term of office, shall be prescribed by law. [Sec. 11, School Latv.] Article 5 of the constitution makes a Superintendent of Public Instruction one of the executive officers of the state, and pro- vides for his election, term of office, etc. Article 9, Sec. 12, of the constitution forbids school districts or other municipal corporations to incur any debt beyond five per centum on the value of the taxable property therein, as ascertained at the last assessment for the general tax. Com- pare also Sec. 47 of the law. Article 4, Sec. 2, of the constitution forbids enacting any local or special laws "providing for the management of com- mon schools." This section is held by the supreme court to be not a limi- tation upon the power of the legislature to select such agencies as it pleases to establish schools, levy and to collect taxes and disburse moneys for their maintenance, but rather a prohibi- tion relating "merely to the management of common schools; that is, to the conduct of common schools in imparting in- struction." [Speight v. People, 87 111,, 595; Fuller v. Heath, 89 111., 269.] Article 9, Sec. 3, of the constitution provides that such property as may be used exclusively for schools may be ex- empted from taxation by general law. Pursuant to this section of the constitution, all public school houses and all property of institutions of learning, not leased or otherwise used for profit, are exempted by law from taxation. [Sec. 2, Chap. 120, Starr and Ciirtis's Piev. Stat. 111.] Two classes of public school property are to be distinguished: One, con- sisting of the funds received at different times from the gen- eral government for educational purposes and additions thereto, which is held in trust by the state, and has been spoken of above in note (a) under article 8, Sec. 2, of the constitution. That class is exempt from all species of taxation. The other class consists of property, other than that of the first class, acquired and held for public school purposes by the several school cor- porations created by law. This- second class of property is exempted from general taxation, but, by the rule laid down in McLean Co. v. Bloomington, 106 111., 209, would seem not to be exempt from special assessments. [Also Cooley on Taxa- tion, 458.] 12 SYLLABUS OP SCHOOL LAWS. SCHOOL LAWS OF ILLINOIS, 1872-1887. [General Act of 1872, as amended. J State Supeetntendent of Public In- STEUCTION— His Election and Duties, Section. 1. Election— Term of office. 2. Oath— Bond. 3. Office— Documents— Kecords. 4. Disposition of moneys received. 5. To counsel with teachers. 6. To supervise schools— To advise county superintendents . 7. Eeport to governor. 8. Eules and regulations— Legal ad- vice. 9. - May order funds withheld. 10. Salary— Expenses. County Superintendents- Their election and duties. 11. Election— Oath— Bond. 12. Eorm of bond— Eiled. 13. Removal- New Bond — Vacancy — Office and supplies. 14. Records of land sales— Loans— Re- port to county board. 15. Treasurers' bonds — Delivery to treasurers. 16. Apportionment and payment of school fund. 17. Report to state superintendent- Penalty. 18. Delivery to successor. 19. Loaning school funds— Interest ap- portioned—Obligations valid. 20. Supervision of schools— Assistants— Institutes— Advice— Appeal to state superintendent — Examination of treasurer's accounts — Trustees liable. 21. To get report from negligent trus-- 22. Sale of land taken for debt. Townships— Trustees of schools. 23. School townships — Fractional — Trustees — Corporate name and powers — Term of office. 24. Who eligible. Section. 25. Elections, first and subseauent — Notices — Postponement— Vacancy —County superintendent may or- der election. 26. Judges of election— Clerk. 27. General election laws to govern— Hours— Polling places— Election at town meeting. Quahfications of voters— Tie. Election to fill vacancy. Return of election— Penalty. Trustees successors of former ofR- cers. Meetings — Organization— President —Treasurer to be clerk— Records. Division into districts — Map — Changes— Petitions— Bonded debt —Vote instead of petition— Notice to districts interested — Action on petition— Adjournment to perfect petition — Appeals — Same when township is in two counties— Elec- tion in district in two counties — Record and map of changes filed with county clerk— Organization of new district— Hearing of appeal by county superintendent — Division of funds— Adjustment of property and debts— Trustees liable — Distribu- tion authorized if heretofore neg- lected—Clerk liable— District dis- solved upon failure for two years to have a school— Union district dis- solved. Apportionment of funds— Forfeiture by district. Transfer of pupils — Township high school established, discontinued. Statistical report to county superin- tendent-Forfeiture of funds. Same when township lies in two or more counties. Trustees to examine treasurer's ac- counts. Title of school property— Control of school premises — School house may be used for meetings— Sale of. SYLLABUS OF SCHOOL LAWS. 13 Section. 40. Township treasurer custodian— Re- moval of treasurer — Suit on bond. 41. Trustees may take, hold and sell real estate— May settle claims. School dieectoes— Theie election and duties. 42. Election— Term of office— Vacancies —Notices— Treasurer or county su- perintendent may order election — How conducted — Judges — Post- ponement — Tie — Organization of board— Records — Meetings — Re- ports to treasurer— To voters— Pay of clerk— Return of election-Pen- alty— Non-residence of trustee or director makes a vacancy— Same person may not be both a teacher and a director — Trustee and di- rector not to be interested in eon- tracts of their boards. 43. Taxation by districts— Limitations- Surplus for library and apparatus- Sale of personal property. 44. Taxlevy— Formof certificate- "When district is in two counties. 45. County clerk to compute and extend tax— Assessor to note district for personalty— County clerk to send treasurers certificates of amount of tax— Collector to pay treasurer amount collected and to give him list of delinquent taxes— Taxes of union districts. 46. Suit against collector. 47. Borrowing money— Limit— Limit of tax— Bonds— Registration. 48. Directors a body politic and corpor- ate — Name — Quorii m — Liability- School for 110 days— Who may at- tend—Rules and regulations— Ap- pointment of teachers— Dismissal- Pupils assigned to schools— Studies —Text books— Books for poor child- ren—Pupils suspended or expelled —Four hours a day for children under 12— Vote of people necessary in cases named— Site taken by con- demnation. 49. Judgments against trustees and di- rectors. EXA]VnNATION AND QUALIEICATIONS OF TEACHEES. 50. Certificates granted to whom— First grade— Second— Renewal— Revoca- tion— Form-County normal school diploma— Record— State certificate —Branches of study to be taught in schools. 51. Examinations, times, places, no- tices—Fees and institute funds- Institute s— Registration fees. Teachers- Theie duties. 52. Must have certificates — To keep schedules and account for prop- erty. 53. To keep registers— Form of register- To keep schedules— Form of sched- ules and certificates of same- Teachers' wages, when and how paid— Interest on same. 54. Filingschedules— Liability of direc- tors—School month— Holidays. Township Teeasueee— His duties. Section. 55. Bond— Approval of— Increase of— Form. 56. Treasurer's books, how kept. 57. Loans — Interest — Term— Amount- Securities— Surplus district funds loaned — Statement of loans to county superintendent. * 58. Mortgage security— Form, f^?^ 59. Breach — Other mortgages valid- Valuation of real estate. 60. Additional secvirity- Preference by administrators and executors. 61. Interest— Default in payment— Suit to recover. 62. Actions in name of trustees— Treas- urer to deiuand moneys, books and papers— To keep funds at interest. 63. Treasurer's statements to trustees, semi-annual, annual— To districts —To be posted at district elections- Penalty. 64. Further penalty— Released— Liabil- ity of trustees. 65. Treasurer to deliver to successor- Penalty. Township and County School Funds. 66. Township fund and county fund— In- terest distributed— Added to prin- cipal. 67. Paying out school funds— Funds of union districts— Form of order. Common School Funds. 68. State school fund. 69. State interest. 70. Apportionment of state fund— War- rants applied in collector's settle- ments—Suit against defaulting col- lector. Compensation or Ofpicees. 71. Of county superintendent— Of as- sistants—Bills—Auditor to pay- Amount kept out of next apportion- ment. 72. Pay of treasurers— Exemption of trustees and directors. Liabilities of Officees. 76. For conversion of funds. Trustees liable for treasurer's sure- ties. Real estate of school officers held. Penalties against school officers — Removal of director by county su- perintendent. Officers responsible for losses— Sec- tarian appropriations and grants prohibited— Officers not to be in- terested in sale of books or appa- ratus. Costs. 78. No costs taxed against school offi- cer. Of Cities and incoepoeated Towns. 79. This act not to repeal special acts — School officers to report statistics to county superintendent— Educa- tional institutions to report to state superintendent. 14 SYLLABUS OF SCHOOL LAWS. Section. ■80. School law applicable to cities and villages— Board of education in dis- tricts of two thousand inhabitants —First election— To succeed direc- tors—Terms of office fixed- Powers and duties of board— May expel pupils, remove teachers, apportion scholars— By-laws— Rules and reg- ulations—Care of school property —Supplies— Presi dent— Secretary — Eecord— Yeas and nays— Powers exercised only at meetings— An- nual report— Conveyances— School fund subject to order of board- Special law may be abandoned- Organization under general law- Powers of board in cities of over one hundred thousand inhabitants, exercised with concurrence of city council— Exclusive powers of the board— Government and control of schools— Examination of teachers Manner of conducting business — Eecords — Eeports — Leases — Loans— Conveyances— Funds held by city treasurer subject to order of the board— City not liable— Ap- pointment of board — Vacancy — Board not to levy taxes. Common School Lands. 81. "What are common school lands. 82. Business transacted, Avhere- -Tres- pass— Fines paid to township treas- urer—Disposition of other fines- Duty of officers- Penalty for neg- lect of duty. Sale of Common School Lands. 83. Petition for sale. 84. Fractional township attached to adjoining. 85. Trustees notified— To make division —Plat — Valuation — Delivery to county superintendent. 86. Manner of sub-dividing. 87. Terms of sale. 88. Place of sale— advertisement. 89. Sale. 90. Closing up sales— Settlement with delinquent purchaser. ■91. Private sale. '92. Valuation vacated— Second valua- tion. ■93. Entry of sale— Certificate. ■94. Annual statement of superintendent to county board. '95. Transcript of sales to auditor. '96. Patent for school lands. ■97. Duplicate certificate and patents. •38. Piepeal. [Additional acts.] Women as School Officees. 99. Women eligible to school offices. 100. Oath— Bond. ' Educational Rights of Childeen. TOl. Who must send children to school. 102. Exemptions. 103. Penalties. 104. School officers must enforce law. Rights of Colored Children. Section. 105. May not be excluded for color. 106. Penalty for exclusion. 107. Penalty for menace. Renting School Lands. 108. Trustees may rent lands. Granting Right of Wat to Railroads. 109. Trustees may sell right of way. Dedicating Land foe Streets. 110. Trustees may dedicate land for streets. School Districts legalized. 111. Districts organized under section 33 legalized. Districts with not less than four HUNDRED Inhabitants. 112. When and how formed. Notice of Payments made to Treas- urer. 113. Trustees and school boards to be notified of payments to treasurers. Attendance upon Institutes. 114. Teachers given five days to attend institutes. Auditing and paying Bills of County Superintendents. 115. When bills shall be audited and paid. President of Board of Education elected. 116. President elected. 117. Duties of president. 118. Repeal. Members of Board of Education ap- pointed. 119. To be appointed when city counci has been school board. 120. Mayor to appoint— Council to con- firm. 121. Organization— Powers. 122. Further powers. Members of Board of Education ELECTED. 123. Time of election— Organization. 124. Repeal. Loans of Funds in Special Districts 125. Made as under general law. Elections under Law of 1885. 126. School elections under law of 1885— Polling places. SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 15 Section. 127. Conduct by commissioners — Ke- turns. 128. Penalty for refusal to serve— For in- terference with election. 129. Repeal. County Noemal Schools. 130. County may establish normal scliool —Vote. 131. County board of education— Elec- tion. 132. Powers and duties of board. 133. Two or more counties may unite. 134. Prior action of counties legalized. 135. Members of board not compensated. 136. Act in force - Ohdeks deawn against Funds on Hand —Against Taxes uncollected. Section. 137. Warrants drawn only when there are funds. 138. Income from taxes anticipated. 139. Jurors' certificates. Refunding Bonds and Othee Out- standing Indebtedness without Registeation with State Auditoe. 140. Bonds refunded. Custodians or Public Funds to Pub- lish Annual Statements. 141. Officers to publish annual state- ments. 142. Penalty. An Act to establish and maintain a system of free schools. L* April 1-July 1, 1872.J STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION — HIS ELECTION AND DUTIES. 1. Election— Term of ofB.ce. Section 1. Be it enacted hy the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly: That at the election to be held on Tuesday after the first Monday of November, in the year of our Lord one thou- sand eight hundred and seventy-four, and quadrennially there- after, there shall be elected, by the legal voters of this state, a state superintendent of public instruction, who shall hold his office for four years from the second Monday in January next after his election, and until his successor is duly elected and qualified. 2. Oath — Bond. § 2. Before entering upon his duties he shall take and subscribe the oath of office prescribed by the constitution, and shall also execute a bond, in the penalty of twenty-five thousand dollars, payable to the State of Illinois, with securities to be approved by the governor, conditioned for the prompt discharge of his duties as superintendent of public instruction, and for the faithful application and disposition, according to law, of all school moneys that may come into his hands by virtue of his office. Said bond and oath shall be deposited with the secretary of state, and an action may be maintained thereon by the state, at any time, for a breach of the conditions thereof. 3. OfB.ce— Documents— Records. § 3. It shall be his duty to keep an office at. the seat of government of the state, and to file all papers, reports and public documents trans- mitted to him by the school officers of the several counties, * When a section has been amended since 1872, the date of the approval of the amendatory act and the date wlien it went into force are given at the end of the sec- tion. If a section lias been amended more than once, the dates are given for each amendatory act. 16 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. each year separately, and to keep and preserve all other pub- lic documents, books and papers relative to schools, coming into his hands as state superintendent, and to hold the same in readiness to be exhibited to the governor, or to any com- mittee of either house of the general assembly ; and shall keep a fair record of all matters pertaining to the business of his office, (a) (a) Official Files — Return of Correspondence. Correspondents asking for official opinions often request the state superintend- ent to return their letters with his answers thereto ; but such requests are not complied with, for the law is construed to require that such letters must be retained on file. Corres- pondents should, therefore, retain copies of such papers as they wish to preserve ; or transmit in duplicate, in which case one copy will be returned if desired. Attested copies of any official paper will be cheerfully furnished, when requested ; but the originals can not be returned. 4. Disposition of moneys received. § 4. He shall, without delay, pay over all sums of money which may Come into his hands by virtue of his office, to the oificer or person entitled to receive the same, in such manner as may be pre- scribed by law. (a) (a) Superintenehmt handles no School Moneys. The superin- tendent does not receive any school moneys. The only moneys which come into his hands as superintendent are the sums appropriated for the clerical and incidental expenses of his office. 5. To counsel -witli teachers. § 5. He shall counsel and advise, in such manner as he may deem most advisable, with experienced and practical school teachers, as to the best manner of conducting common schools. 6. To supervise schools— To advise county super- intendents. § 6. Said superintendent shall have the super- vision of all the common and public schools in the state, and shall be the general adviser and assistant of county superin- tendents of schools in this state ; he shall, from time to time, as he shall deem for the interest of schools, address circular letters to said superintendents, giving advice as to the best manner of conducting schools, constructing school houses, fur- nishing the saine, examining and procuring competent teachers. 7. Report to governor. § 7. Said state superintendent shall, on or before the first day of November preceding each regular session of the general assembly, report to the governor the condition of the schools in the several counties of the state ; the whole number of schools which have been taught in each county in each of the preceding years, commencing SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS, 17 on the first of July; what part of said number have been taught by males exclusively, and what part by females ex- clusively ; what part of said whole number have been taught by males and females at the same time, and what part by males and females at different periods; the number of scholars in attendance at said schools ; the number of persons in each county under twenty-one years of age, and . the number of such persons between the ages of twelve and twenty-one years that are unable to read and write ; the amount of township and county funds ; the amount of the interest of the state or common school fund, and of the interest of the town- ship and the county fund annually paid out ; the amount raised by an ad valorem tax ; the whole amount annually ex- pended for schools ; the number of school houses, their kind and condition ; the number of townships and parts of town- ships in each county ; the number and description of books and apparatus purchased for the use of schools and school libraries under the provisions of this act, the price paid for the same, and total amount purchased, and what quantity and how distributed ; and the number and condition of the libra- ries, together with such other information and suggestions as he may deem important in relation to the school laws, schools, and the means of promoting education throughout the state ; which report shall be laid before the general assembly at each regular session, (a) [June 3 — July 1, 1879.] (a) Reports. The reports of the state superintendent are made to the governor biennially; but each contains a statis- tical summary of school operations for each of the two pre- ceding school years. The statistical school year begins July first. 8. Rules and regulations— Legal advice. § 8, The said state superintendent of public instruction shall make such rules and regulations as may be necessary and expedient to carry into efficient and uniform effect the provisions of this act, and of all the laws which now are or may hereafter be in force, for establishing and maintaining free schools in this state ; and shall be the legal adviser of all school officers, and when requested by any such school officers, shall give his opinion in writing upon any question arising under the school laws of this state, (a) (a) 1. Poioer to make Rules. This section grants the state superintendent large powers, both legislative and judicial in character, whose limits are not easily stated. That he speaks with authority in making rules, interpreting laws, and in giving opinions upon questions referred to him is recognized by the courts, [Pmvell v. Board of Edfiication, 97 111., 375 ; State V. Burton, 45 Wis., 150; State v. Graham, 60 Wis,, S95.] 18 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 2, Decisions Final. The decisions of the state superinten- dent are final, unless otherwise directed by the legislature, or reversed by a court of competent jurisdiction. 3. Will not advise as to Cases in Court. He has nothing to do with school cases which have been taken into the courts. Hence, he can not take under advisement, or furnish opinions upon, cases or questions upon which judicial proceedings have been instituted. It would be both useless and improper for him to do so, for his jurisdiction ceases where that of the courts begins. The object of the powers with which he is invested is to ^jrey^?!^ litigation, not to interfere after suits have been commenced. This will explain why decisions are not furnished to parties in actual litigation. They mast apply for informa- tion or instructions before bringing suit. 9. May order funds witliheld. § 9. The said state superintendent shall have power to direct and cause the county superintendent of any county, directors or boards of trustees or township treasurer of any township, or other school officer, to withhold from any officer, township, district or teacher, any part of the common school, or township, or other school fund, until such officer, township treasurer or teacher shall have made all schedules, reports and returns required of him by this act, and until such officer shall have executed and filed all official bonds and accounted for all common school or township or other school funds which have heretofore come into his hands, as required of him by this act. 10. Salary — Expenses. § 10. And the said state superin- tendent shall receive, annually, such sum as may be provided by law, as a salary for the services required under the provi- sions of this act or any other law that may be passed, and also all necessary contingent expenses for books, postage and stationery pertaining to his office, to be audited and paid by the state as the salaries and contingent expenses of other officers are paid, (a) (a) Salary. Section 1 of the Fees and Salaries Act, fixes the salary of the state superintendent at thirty-five hundred dollars a year. The amount for clerk hire and contingent ex- penses is determined by the legislature at each session. [Sec. 1, Chap. 53, Rev. Stat. III.] COUNTY SUPEKINTENDENTS — THEIR ELECTION AND DU1IES. 11. Election — Oath— Bond. § 11. On the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November, 1882, and every four (4) years thereafter, there shall be elected by the qualified voters of every county in this state a county superintendent of schools, SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 19 -who shall perform the duties required by law, and shall ■enter upon the duties of his office on the first Monday of December after his election. He shall, before entering upon his duties, take the oath prescribed by the constitution, and execute a bond, payable to the State of Illinois, with two (2) or more responsible freeholders as security, to be approved by the county board, or judge and clerk of the county court, in penalty of not less than $12,000, to be increased at the dis- cretion of said board, conditioned that he will faithfully per- form all the duties of his office according to the laws which are or may be in force, by which bond the obligors shall be bound jointly and severally, and upon which an action or actions may be maintained by the board of trustees of the proper township, for the benefit of any township or fund in- jured by any breach, (a) and the county board of each of the counties of this state shall, in the month of December, A. D. 1881, appoint a county superintendent of schools, who shall be the successors in office, respectively, of the county superin- tendents of schools then in office, and the term of office of the then officers so appointed shall be one (1) year and until the •election and qualification of their successors. iMay 31 — July 1, 1881.] (a) 1. Oath — Bond. Before county superintendents can legally ■enter upon the discharge of their official duties, they must take an oath for the faithful performance of the same, and execute a bond, as prescribed. The amount of the bond should be at least double the amount of moneys and securities that will be held by the superintendent at any one time. 2. Liability of, for Loss of Funds. The supreme court has passed upon the liability of township treasurers for all funds •coming into their hands as treasurers in Thompson v. Trustees, SO 111., 99. [See note (a), 4, Sec. 55], and the same liability attaches to the county superintendent. The official relations of county superintendents to the public funds coming into their hands as such, being identical in nature with those of township treasurers, the same stringent rule of responsibility applies to the former as to the latter — they are equally liable on their official bonds for the loss of any trust funds in their hands, even though caused by accident or the felony of another. I do not see any mode of relief in any such case, except by the special interposition of the legislature. In the case of the public funds distributed by county superintendents under sec- tion sixteen of this act, the liability does not cease with the expiration of the time within which it is the duty of township "treasurers to call for their respective amounts, but remains in 20 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. full force SO long as any part of said funds remains in their hands. Prudence, therefore, dictates that all said funds, when received and payable, should be paid over and receipted for with as little delay as possible. 12. Form of "bond — Filed. § 12. The bond required in the foregoing section shall be in the following form, viz : State of Illinois, t <.<, (Jounty . ) Know all men by these presents, that we, A B, D and E F are held and firmly bound, jointly and severally, unto the People of the State of Illinois, in the penal. sum of dollars, to the payment of which we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators, firmly by these presents. In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and seals, this day of A.D.18.... Tlie condition of the above obligation is such, that if the above bounden A B, county superintendent of the county aforesaid, shall faithfully discharge all the duties of said office, according to the laws which now are or may hereafter be in force, and shall deliver over to his successor in office all moneys, books, papers and property in his hands, as such county superintendent, then this obligation to be^ void; otherwise to remain in full force and virtue. A B, [SEAL.J C D, [seal.] E F, [SEAL.] And which bond shall be filed in the office of the county clerk. 13. Kemoval — New bond — Vacancy. § 13. The said superintendent shall be liable to removal by the county board for any palpable violation of law or omission of duty ; {a) and if a majority of said board shall at any time be satisfied that his bond is insufficient, it shall be his duty, on notice, to exe- cute a new bond, to be payable, conditioned and approved as the first bond, the execution of which shall not affect the old bond or the liability of the security thereof; and when the office of county superintendent shall become vacant by death, resignation or otherwise, the county board shall fill the same by appointment, and the person so appointed shall hold his office until the next election of county officers, at which electiort the county board shall order the election of a successor. Office — Furniture — Supplies. The county board shall pro- vide for the county superintendent a suitable office with neces- sary furniture, and shall provide him with office supplies, as is. done in the case of other county officers, [b) [June 26-July 1, 1885.] {a) 1. Removal. The county board may not capriciously remove a county superintendent ; he may be removed for a "palpable violation of law or omission of duty" only. It has been held in this state that a county board justly removed a county superintendent who had been repeatedly intoxicated at times when he should have been attending to his official duties. It was also held that it was not essential to the validity of the order of removal in this case that the record of the board should show charges preferred and filed ; that the mode of pro- SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 21 cedure in procuring and hearing evidence in such a case was within the discretion of the county board, and that since the statute is silent on the point, the board is not required to give the superintendent notice of the time and place of the trial. [People V. Maijs, 117 111., 257.] 2. Resignation. When an officer tenders his resignation in writing to the person or persons who may properly accept it, and the paper is received and ordered filed, the resignation is thereby accepted though there may be no formal act or record of acceptance, and it is not subject to withdrawal thereafter. [Pace V. People, 50 111., 432.] (&) Office — Furniture — Supplies. The county superintendent's office should be a well lighted room of considerable size, and easy of access. If it is not large enough for the examination of teachers, the superintendent should have the use of addi- tional room, as he may need. The furniture should include, besides chairs, tables and writing desk, a book-case, a press for copying letters and a letter book, letter files, and other appliances for preserving letters and papers. The superinten- dent should also be furnished with a dictionary, a good county map and a map of the state. His office supplies should in- clude all stationery, blanks, record books, necessary printing, postage and the other incidentals of the office. In regard to all these matters, the county board should deal with the super- intendent just as it does with the other county officers, and should order the bills therefor paid from the county treasury. Formerly the state superintendent ruled that these things, when not furnished by the county board, might be obtained by the county superintendent and paid for out of school funds in his hands. But since the law was amended in 1885 to read as above, such a ruling -is no longer necessary ; and inasmuch as the law now points out the way in which the office, furni- ture, etc., shall be provided and paid for, it is held to be un- lawful for the county superintendent, even with the consent or by the direction of the county board, to use school moneys for any such purpose. The only exceptions to the rule that the county superintendent's incidental expenses must be paid from the county treasury, are that advertising the times and places of holding examinations for teachers may, by Sec. 51, be paid for out of the school fund, and that the expenses of the insti- tute, held under Sec. 51, are a charge upon the institute fund. 22 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. County superintendents should determine in advance, as nearly as may be, what incidental expenses they will have, and obtain authority from the county board to incur them, or secure a regular allowance for such purposes. If county superinten- dents wish or expect to incur unusual expenses, they should arrange for them in advance with the county board. In most counties the county boards have treated the county superintendent's office with reasonable liberality ; but a few boards have been extremely niggardly. The law now de- clares this office as important as other county offices, and county boards must accord to all the same measure of sup- port. 14. Records of land sales— Loans. § 14. The said superintendent shall provide three well bound books, which shall be paid for from the county treasury. These books shall be known and designated by the letters A, B, C, for the fol- lowing purpose : In book A he shall record, at length, all petitions presented to him for the sale of common school lands, and the plats and certiticates of valuation made by or under the direction of the trustees of schools, and the affidavits in relation to the same. In book B he shall keep an account of all sales of common school lands ; which account shall con- tain the date of sale, name of purchaser, description of land sold and the sum sold for. In book C he shall keep a regular account of all moneys received for lands sold, or otherwise, and loaned or paid out; the person of whom received, and on what account, and showing whether it is principal or interest ; the person to whom loaned, the time for which the loan was made, the rate of interest, the names of the securities when personal security is taken, or, if real estate is taken as security, a description of said real estate ; and if paid out, to whom, when, and on what account, and the amount paid out ; the list of sales and the accounts of each township fund to be kept separate, (a) Report to county board. The county superintendent shall report in writing to the county board, at their regular meeting in September of each year, giving first, the balance on hand at the time of the last report, and a statement in detail of all receipts since that date, and the sources from which they were derived ; second, the amount paid for expenses ; third, the amount of his commissions ; fourth, the amount dis- tributed to each of the township treasurers in his county ; fifth, any balances on hand. He shall also present for inspection at the same time his books and all notes or other evidences of indebtedness which he holds officially, with the securities of the same ; and he shall give in writing a statement of the condition of the county fund and of any township funds of which he may have the custody, {b) [June 3-July 1, 1879.] SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 2S (a) Records of Land Sales. The first part of this section relates to the sales of sixteenth section lands, and loaning the moneys received on account of such sales. Since, however, all these lands have been sold, excepting a few acres, and the funds turned over to the township treasurers, the topic will be passed with the suggestion that the books named should be carefully preserved ; for the transactions recorded in them are essential links in the titles of these school lands, and some- times no other record exists of what these books contain. (b) 1. Report relates to What. The county superintendent holds no longer any township funds ; so the report he is re- quired to make by this section includes, at most, but two things : (1) The account of moneys received for distribution to the town- ships, which may be called the "distributable fund," and (2) the condition of the county fund, which is found in some seventy counties. 2. The Distributable Fund. The distributable fund consists (aside from any balance) of (1) the amount received on the auditor's warrant ; (2) receipts from fines and forfeitures ; (3) income of county fund, if the county has such a fund. The only lawful disbursements from this fund are (1) to township treasurers ; (2) to county superintendents, two per cent, com- mission on the amount paid township treasurers (on the war- rant paid, not on the whole fund), and on amounts loaned, and (3) to pay for advertising the times and places of examin- ing teachers. It is so provided in sections 16, 19, 71 and 51. The report should show in detail the receipts and expenditures and the evidences of balances on hand. 3. The Comity Fund. The report of the county fund should state its amount, how it is invested, and the condition of the several loans, and there should be an exhibit of the securities held and of the cash on hand. 4. Other Reports. Section 51 requires the county superin- tendent to report at the same time upon the institute fund, but the several funds should be kept entirely distinct. Neither have the reports called for by this section and section 51 any connection with the quarterly bills for services accompanied by detailed statements thereof, which county superintendents ren- der for approval and transmittal to the state auditor; nor have they anything to do with the bills for office expenses, etc., in- 24 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. curred under section 13 by authority of- the county board, and presented for audit and payment from the county treasury. 5. Power oj the County Board. In relation to the distribut- able fund, the power of the county board in the premises is, solely, to examine the account and certify as to its accuracy. The law directs how the fund shall be managed and what dis- position shall be made of it ; and as to these matters the county board may not control the discretion of the county superintendent. If he violates the law, the board may remove him ; if the fund suffers loss, the board may hold him on his bond ; but within the limitations imposed by the law, the county superintendent acts independently of the county board. He has the same freedom of action in regard to the county fund and the institute fund, and in regard to plans and methods in the performance of his ofQcial duties and the division of his time among them. But the expenses to be paid under Sec, 13 must be authorized by the county board, and the board must audit and approve them. If the county superintendent incurs SQch expenses without authority, and the board disapproves, he will have them to pay himself. Harmony of action between the county board and county superintendent will be promoted, if each will keep within the limits imposed by the law and yield to the other his full rights. It should be added that the purpose of requiring these reports is that the interests of the public may be guarded, and in order that that end may be attained, the reports should all be made up with fullness of detail and with accuracy. All public busi- ness should be done in a methodical way and with such care and fidelity as to welcome scrutiny and defy suspicion. 15. Treasurers' bonds —Delivery of funds to treas- urers. § 15. Whenever the bond of any township treasurer, approved by the board of trustees of schools, as required by law, shall be delivered to the county superintendent, he shall carefully examine the same, and if the instrument is found to be in all respects according to law, and the securities good and sufficient, he shall indorse his approval thereon, and file the same with the papers of his office ; but if said bond is in any respect defective, he shall return it for correction. When the bond shall have been duly received and filed, the superin- tendent shall, on demand, deliver to said township treasurer all moneys, bonds, mortgages, notes and securities, and all papers of every description belonging to said township ; and the said township treasurer shall receipt for the same, which receipt shall be carefully filed and preserved by the county SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 25 superintendent, and shall be evidence of the fact therein stated, (a) (a) 1. Approval of Treasurers' Bonds. The object of this section is to throw further safeguards around the township funds, by requiring a close scrutiny of the bonds of township treasurers, on the part of county superintendents. For lack of such scrutiny many townships have suffered heavy losses ; and there is reason to fear that some bonds now on file are worthless by reason of fatal defects of form, or failure of re- newal for a term of years, and the consequent present insuffi- ciency of the securities. It is true that the duty of passing upon the sufficiency of the township treasurer's securities, and of approving his bond, rests by law, primarily, upon the board of trustees, and that the penal consequences of neglect fall chiefly upon them. But it is plain from the language of this section, that it is the intention of the legislature to require great vigilance on the part of the county superintendents, as an additional safeguard for the funds of the township. Hence, if a bond is "in any respect defective," they must "return it for correction." Their duty is not fulfilled by simply acting as custodians of the bonds of township treasurers, and accept- ing, without investigation, all that are presented, provided only that they are approved by the requisite number of trustees. They must closely examine every instrument, to see that it is in strict conformity with the law ; that it is duly renewed every two years, and, as far as practicable, that "the securities are good and sufficient." And until the bonds are purged of all defects, they must refuse to pay over the funds or to deliver up the papers, etc., to the township treasurers concerned. When a bond is perfected, according to law and to the re- quirements of the county superintendent, and not before, that officer will "indorse his approval thereon, and file the same with the papers of his office." He should insist that the bond 1)6 in the form prescribed in the statute — Sec. 55. Sec. 55 also gives the superintendent the power to call for additional se- curity whenever he finds that the bond has become insufi^cient, and this power imposes a corresponding duty of keeping well informed as to the condition of each bond on file in his office. 2. Funds to be paid over. The last part of the section re- lates to the time when the school townships were first organ- ized as at present and the township funds (both the perma- —2 26 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. nent fund and that for current expenses in the districts), which had so far been held by the county superintendent, were to be turned over to the township treasurers. 16. Apportionment and payment of school funds. § 16. Upon the receipt of the amount due upon the auditor's warrant, the county superintendent shall apportion said amount to the several townships and parts of townships in his county in which townships or parts of townships schools have been kept in accordance with the provisions of this act and with the instructions of the state and county superintendent, according to the number of children under twenty-one years of age re- turned to him, and shall pay over the distributive share belong- ing to each township and fractional township, to the respective township treasurers, or other authorized persons annually* : Provided, that no part of the state, county or other school fund shall be paid to any township treasurer, or other person authorized by said treasurer, unless said township treasurer has filed his bond as required by the fifty-fifth section of this act, nor in case said treasurer is re-appointed by the trustees, unless he shall have renewed his bond and filed the same as aforesaid, {a) (fl) 1. Conditions of Apportionment. The condition upon which a township may share in the apportionment of funds made by the county superintendent, is that it has had during the year ending June 30th, preceding the distribution, at least one school kept within its limits in accordance with the law. What this term, "in accordance with law," means in this con- nection will be considered under Sec. 34. Townships and parts of townships, in which no schools have been kept according to law, can not share in the distribution of the school fund. But, if a single school of a township has been kept as the law requires, that township is entitled to the benefit of the school fund. Where a township is divided by a county line, leaving one or more districts on each side of said line, the treasurer of said township is entitled to funds from each superintendent, provided that schools have been kept according to law in each fraction of the township ; but not otherwise. If the district or districts in the part of said township lying in one county, have complied with the provisions of law, while the district or dis- tricts of said township which lie in the other county, have not so complied, then the treasurer of said township is entitled to funds from the superintendent of the former county, but not from the superintendent of the latter county. Another condi- *rorin No. 2. SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 27 tion of sharing in the distribution is that the trustees have made the annual report to the county superintendent as re- quired by Sec. S6. See the last sentence of that section. Failure to satisfy either of these conditions causes a forfeiture of the fund by the township failing (the state superintendent, may remit the forfeiture on account of a failure to report [Sec 36]), and the county superintendent must in such a case ap- portion the whole distribatable fund to the other townships. [Pace V. People, 47 111., 321.] 2. Basis of Apportionment. The basis of the apportionment is the number of persons under twenty-one years of age accord- ing to the returns of the school census received by the county superintendent. Official census returns must be received, unless known to be fal-e and fraudulent, in which case they may be rejected and the funds withheld until true returns are made ; or, the latest correct returns on file may be taken as the basis, as aforesaid. 3. Conditions of Payment. But the county superintendent^ after making the apportionment to any township, must not pay over the money to the treasurer unless he has fully com- plied with the law in regard to his bond. The provisions of the law on this subject may be summed up as follows : (1) Every township treasurer, before entering upon his duties, must execute a bond. (2) If a treasurer serve two years and is re-appointed, he must execute a new bond. (3) If a treasurer resign, or is removed, and a new one is appointed, he must execute a bond. (4) Every bond must have at least two responsible freeholders as securities, which securities shall not be members of the board of trustees. (5) Every bond must be approved and accepted by at least two members of the board of trustees. (6) The penalty of every bond must be at least twice the amount of the moneys, notes, mortgages, and effects, in the custody, or to be in the custody, of the township treasurer. (7) Every township treasurer's bond must be in the form prescribed by law. [See section 55.] A reference to the above points will enable any county superin- tendent to determine readily and surely the character and con- 28 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. dition of every bond on file in his office, or that may be delivered to him, and to govern himself accordingly. But the fact that a township does not have a duly qualified treasurer at the time when the apportionment is made by the county superintendent, does not make it the duty of the county superintendent to omit the township in the distribution. He must include such township and apportion to it its share, but hold the money until the township has a duly qualified treasurer to whom it may be lawfully paid. That is, this provision of the law is not a penalty to be enforced, but a means for the protection of both the county superintendent and the township, so that neither may suffer loss through a payment to an irre- sponsible person. 4. ToivnsUip Treasurers to Call for Funds. It is the duty of township treasurers to call upon the county superintendent for the funds due their respective townships, upon benig duly notified that the same are ready for distribution. 17. Reports to state superintendent— Penalty. § 17. On or before the fifteenth day of August before each regular session of the general assembly, or annually, if so required by the state superintendent, the county superintendent shall com- municate to said state superintendent all such information and statistics upon the subjects of schools in his county as the said state superintendent is bound to embody in his report to the governor, and such other information as the state superin- tendent shall require; and any county superintendent so fail- ing or refusing to report, shall be liable to removal by the county board for such neglect of daty. (a) [June 3 — July 1, 1879.] (a) 1. Reports, One of the most important duties of county superintendents is the preparation of full and careful reports, showing the progress and condition of the public schools in their respective counties. Upon the completeness and accuracy of the county reports depend the fullness and value of the biennial report to the governor, and upon that report the people of this and other states rely for their knowledge of the condi- tion of public education in Illinois, and the legislature, for the data by which to estimate the character of the results achieved, and the legislation necessary to the further improvement and development of the whole system. I wish I could impress upon school officers the vast impor- tance of well digested, consistent and thoroughly trustworthy statistical and general educational reports. It is certain that SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 29 many consider the elaboration and tabulation of school reports as little better than useless drudgery — to be performed because required by law, but as of little practical value. And hence, it can not be denied that this duty is more neglected, or more carelessly performed, than any other connected with our sys- tem. I speak in general terms, for there have always been some whose reports have reflected honor upon themselves and the state. The first requisite of a statistical report is truth. Let the facts appear just as they are, whether they show progress or retrogression. It is folly to exaggerate facts in order to save the pride of a community, or to make actual decline appear as advancement. It is more than folly, because it does injustice to those whose bona fide progress is made to suffer by com- parison with fictitious progress; and because it misleads and deludes the public mind. Consistency, fullness of details, dis- criminating accuracy, close observation, neatness and punctu- ality, are also indispensable in good school reports. Such reports require a great deal of time, and thought and patience ; but they are worth something when you get them. I have spoken of the necessity of school reports. They are absolutely essential — they are the way-marks of progress. No system of schools, or of anything else, can dispense with such periodical exhibits of its operations. 2. Penalty for Failure or Refusal to Report. For refusal or neglect to render such reports, at the time and in the manner required by law, county superintendents are liable to removal from office. They are also liable to a fine of twenty-five dol- lars for each default in making such report, under section seventy-six of this act. 18. Delivery, to successor. § 18. The county superin- tendent, upon his removal or resignation, or at the expiration of his term of service (or, in case of his death, his representa- tives), shall deliver over to his successor in office, on demand, all moneys, books, papers and personal property belonging to the office, or subject to the control or disposition of the county superintendent, (a) (a) Records, etc., to he turned over to Successor. The books and papers named should include all the official records of the office, books of account, vouchers, treasurers' reports, duplicate county superintendents' reports and office copies of the state superintendents' reports ; also such other books as may have 30 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. been purchased or donated for office use, and all correspond- ence of an official character and permanent value. The official accounts, records, etc., should be carefully written up to the close of the term and all balances stated, so that the incoming officer may readily see the condition of such fund and of all official business. No feeling of disappointment over a failure of reelection, or of jealousy of a successful opponent, and no lack of interest in an office to be vacated, will lead a right- thinking man to close up his official work otherwise than in a creditable way. [Sec. 216, Chav. 38, Rev. Statutes.] 19. lioaning school funds— Interest apportioned — Obligations valid. § 19. The county supermtendent may loan any money, not interest, belonging to the county fund, before the same is called for, according to law, by the town- ship treasurer, at the same rate of interest, upon the same security and for the same length of time as is provided by this act in relation to the township treasurers, and apportion the interest as provided in section sixteen of this act ; and notes and mortgages * taken in the name of the "county superin- tendent" of the proper county, are hereby declared to be as valid as if taken in the name of "trustees of schools" of the proper township, and suits may be brought in the name of "county superintendents," on all notes and mortgages hereto- fore or hereafter made payable to the county superintendents, (a) (a) Loans — Securities. In the revision of the school law made in 1857, five words were dropped out of this section — by some blunder probably — and the first part was thus left devoid of meaning. The omitted words are "or to any town- ship fund," and they should be inserted after the words "county fund" in the second line above. When the county superinten- dent sells sixteenth section lands for any school township he may loan the purchase money to the buyer (§ 87), taking a note and mortgage running to the "county superintendent" ; or, if the purchase money is paid in, he may loan it, if he have opportunity to do so before it is called for by the town- ship treasurer, taking papers running to the "county superin- tendent." The last part of the section makes such papers of the same validity as if taken in the name of the "trustees of schools" who have been made the corporate school officers for the school townships (§ 23). 20. Supervision of schools — Assistants —Advice — Institutes. § 20. The county superintendent shall visit each school in the county, at least once a year; and in the per- * Forms Nos. 3 and 4. SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 31 formance of this duty he shall spend at least half the time given to his office, and more if practicable, in visiting un- graded schools. In counties having not more than one hun- dred (100) schools the county board may limit the time of the superintendent : Provided, that in the counties having not more than fifty (50) schools the limit of time shall not be made less than one hundred and fifty (150) days a year ; in counties having from fifty-one (51) to seventy-five (75) schools, not less than two hundred _(200) days a year, and in counties having from seventy-six (76) to one hundred (100) schools, not less than two hundred and fifty (250) days a year, (a) The county superintendent may, with the approval of the county board, employ such assistant or assistants as he needs for the full discharge of his duties ; such assistant or assistants shall be persons of good attainments, versed in the principles and methods of education, familiar with the public school work and competent to visit schools, (b) In visiting schools, he shall note the methods of instruction, the branches taught, the text books used and the discipline, government and general condi- tion of the schools. He shall give such directions in the science, art and methods of teaching as he may deem expe- dient and necessary, and shall be the official adviser and con- stant assistant of the school officers and teachers of his county, and shall faithfally carry out the advice and instruction of the state superintendent. He shall encourage the formation and assist in the management of county teachers' institutes, and labor in every practicable way to elevate the standard of teaching and improve the condition of the common schools of his county, (c) Controversies — Appeal to state superintendent. In all controversies arising under the school law, the opinion and advice of the county superintendent shall first be sought, whence appeal may be taken to the state superintendent, upon a written statement of facts, certified by the county superin- tendent.* (d) Examination of treasurers' books, etc. — Liability of trustees. He shall, at least once each year, examine all books, accounts and vouchers of each township treasurer in his county ; and if he find any irregularities in them, he shall at once report the same in writing to the board of trustees, whose duty it shall be to take immediately such action as the case demands. He shall also examine all notes, bonds and mortgages, and other evidences of indebtedness which the township treasurer holds officially ; and if he find that the papers are not in proper form, or that the securities are in- sufficient, he shall so state in writing to the board of trustees, whose duty it shall be to take at once such action as is neces- sary to save and protect the property of the districts and the *Form No. 5. 32 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. townships; and for a failure or refusal to take such action within twenty (20) days after such notice, the members of the board, each in his individual capacity, shall be liable to a fine of not less than twenty-five doUars ($25), nor more than one hundred dollars (|100), to be recovered before any justice of the peace, on information in the name of the People of the State of Illinois, provided such insufficiency is proven, and when collected, to be paid to the county superintendent of the proper county, for the use of schools; and the payment of this fine shall not relieve the board of trustees from their liability under the seventy-third (73) section of this act. {e) [June 3— July 1, 1879 ; June 26— July 1, 1885.1 (a) Supervision of Schools — Time for Same. The first part of this section enjoins upon the county superintendent a careful supervision of the public schools of his county. In counties having more than one hundred schools, he has all his time for his official work, with but this restriction, which applies as well to county superintendents in counties with a smaller number of schools, that half the time given to his official work must be spent in the supervision of ungraded schools. The term "ungraded school" is held to mean a school with but a single teacher, who has pupils of all degrees of advancement. The purpose in requiring so much time to be given to the country schools is to secure for them that which they need but have usually failed to receive. During the first, second and fourth quarters of the county superintendents' year he can easily spend more than half his time in visiting ungraded schools ; but during the third quarter, he can spend little or no time in that way in most parts of the state, for the country schools are not in session then. The county superintendent fully complies with the law if his bills for the four quarters, taken together, show that half the time charged for in them has been spent in the supervision of ungraded schools. Hence his bill for the third quarter should not be objected to by the county board even though it show that during the quarter he has not visited such schools at all, provided it is apparent, when the bill is considered, that by the close of the year the county superintendent will have done, for the whole year, what the law requires of him in respect to visitation of ungraded schools. In counties with not more than one hundred schools the county superintendent has all his time for his official work, unless the county board limits him; and the extent of this SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 33 limitation is fixed. The county boards in these smaller coun- ties are not required to limit the time of the county superin- tendent. Usually the best interests of the schools and of the county will be consulted by putting no restriction upon the county superintendent which shall limit his time for school supervision, (b) Assistants. The county superintendent may, with the approval of the county board, employ such assistance as may be desirable. County superintendents have already been per- mitted to employ assistants in many counties, and it is to be hoped that county boards in other, particularly in large, coun- ties, will see the propriety of giving their superintendents the help needed. It is no exaggeration to say that in at least thirty counties the superintendent of schools will find it a physical impossibility to do, unassisted, the work the law im- poses upon him as it should be done. (c) 1. Importance of Superintendent's Duties. This section declares what are the great, paramount, all important duties de- volving upon the county superintendent as such. These chief duties are not to sell school land and apportion school moneys, but to visit schools ; to study their methods of instruction, dis- cipline and government ; to instruct in the science, art and methods of teaching ; to be the advisor and assistant of school officers and teachers; to promote the formation of teachers' institutes ; and to labor in every practicable way to elevate the standard of teaching, and to improve the condition of the common schools of his county. These are high educational duties and responsibilities, not mere business and financial details ; and it is for these great ends that the office of county superintendent of schools has been created — an office not surpassed by any other in the magnitude, dignity, importance and difficulty of the duties im- posed — duties which absolutely demand for their proper dis- charge the ablest, best, and most experienced educational men that can be found — duties that require not only great ability and special qualifications, but much time, attention and thought. I rejoice that so many of the present superintend- ents are of this character. 1 call upon the people of every county in the state to see to it that these high interests are entrusted to no other class of men. Do not give the highest county school office to men who seek it only for the sake of 34 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. the commissions accruing from the sale of land and the di- vision of the school fund, but to those who comprehend, and are able to perform the infinitely more important duties pointed out in this section. Let no private, personal, or political con- siderations prompt you to place any but the very best avail- able man in this responsible position. As has already been said, the financial duties of a countiy superintendent, though highly important in their sphere, are utterly insignificant when compared with his educational duties. Any man of ordinary honesty, and of even less than ordinary business capacity, can apportion a few hundred dollars. But no mere business man, be his talents ordinary or extraordi- nary, can successfully meet the educational requirements of this and others sections of the school law. It is these duties which impart all real value and significance to the office of county superintendent. Apart from these duties, the office might be abolished without material detriment to the ersential interests of common schools. From no other cause have the interests of common schools suffered so much as from the lack of close, competent, ener- getic and faithful supervision. The great want of our free school system is supervision. The need of this is felt in all its departments and agencies, from the highest to the lowest. The impossibility of obtaining full and reliable data for the statistical reports, though a serious evil, is the least of those which flow from the absence of systematic and responsible supervision. The schools themselves, and the essential inter- ests of education, are the greatest sufferers. The lack of effi- cient subordinate supervision is fatal to every effort of the state superintendent to give unity and strength to the system, and equally so to the plans of commissioners for the improve- ment of the schools of their respective counties. It is vain to make recommendations or issue letters of instruction, if there are none to see that they are carried out. Hence the want of unity and co-operation among the various official agencies of the system. Irregularities are unnoticed or winked at ; errors in government and classification — vicious arrangements of studies and methods of teaching are suffered to exist, all of which would instantly be detected by the vigilant eye of an experienced visitor, and the proper remedy be applied. SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 35 2. Necessity for Good Men. Hence there should be a com- petent, earnest and faithful county superintendent in every county of the state, who should be required to devote his whole time to the watchful care and supervision of the com- mon schools of his county; and for these services he should receive a suitable compensation. . The county superintendents should be the prompt, efficient and reliable agents through whom the state superintendent could at all times communicate with the schools of the state and carry out his plans for their improvement; they should be the ready and constant advisers of teachers, directors and iownship officers ; counseling them in their duties, relieving them in their perplexities, assisting them in their records and in all the business details pertaining to the schools. They should be active and efficient helpers in preparing for, organ- izing and conducting teachers' institutes, and in bringing the people to see the necessity of thorough teachers and sound principles and methods of instruction. For this work the very best and most experienced and edu- cational men should be chosen — practical teachers, if possible. There is not a county in the state where the ablest and strong- est of such men would not find scope for all his time and all his powers, and still leave much labor undone that ought to be performed. The idea that this work can be properly done by any man in connection with or in addition to any other regular profession or employment, is absurd ; the mere busi- ness and financial matters connected with the schools may be attended to hy a person engaged in other pursuits, but to speak of this as school supervision would be a strange perver- sion of language. The supervision here recommended will cost something, but it will amount to something. It will be an infinite gain to the schools and in the end be in every sense the cheapest. This is the testimony of every state where it has been tried, and is indeed self-evident ; for all know that honest and vigilant supervision is the life and strength of every enterprise requir- ing numerous and diversified agencies. The friends of free schools are to be congratulated that the agency so long needed has at length, in part at least, been pro- vided. The legislature has recognized, as never before, the true nature of the office. It is for us to see that the just ex- 36 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. pectations of the friends of this important change are not dis- appointed. 3. Aims and Method of Vlntation. It is obligatory upon county superintendents to visit every school in their respective counties, at least once in each year. Less than this ought not to be required ; much more is expected. Every school has a right to the benefit of such official visitation. The value of an encouraging word to a faithful teacher, or an approving remark to deserving pupils, or of a kindly hint or suggestion, is very great. A devoted and competent superintendent will always be able to draw from the storehouse of his experience and observation, an apt suggestion or a timely hint, some word of counsel or advice, which will cause his visit to be pleasantly remembered and its repetition to be desired. The visitations of the superintendent should be conducted with a definite plan and aim, and the results carefully noted and preserved. He should always aim at some positive prac- tical good, both to himself and to the school ; he must know how and what to observe, and how and what to speak. There is no wonder-working magic in the mere ofiicial visit of a county superintendent — he must know what he is about, and be master of the situation, or the comments that will follow his departure may be the reverse of complimentary. If a superintendent does not understand the science, art and methods of teaching, it is needless to say that he can not instruct others in them ; nor will it be long before both the teacher and pupils of the school visited, will find it out. But the visits of a superintendent of large experience, ample endowments, and an earnest, intelligent purpose, can not fail to be always most welcome and most useful. In order to form a just opinion of the real condition of the school visited, the ordinary routine of the exercises should not be disturbed or suspended, and the visit should not be less than two or three hours, if practicable. The practice of arrest- ing the usual proceedings in order to enable the visitor to witness the performance of a few favorite scholars or classes, is all wrong — it defeats the whole object in view, which is tO' ascertain how the daily ivork of the school is done, not to be amused or astonished by the achievements of a trained few. The superintendent calls to inspect the school, not to attend an exhibition. Still worse is the habit of suspending all busi- SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 37 ness when the inspector enters, until he "makes some remarks," and not resuming until he retires — leaving both parties pre- cisely as wise as they were before. The intention of the law is plain ; the superintendence contemplated will require care- ful study and preparation. Mere visitation is not what is wanted; that alone is as useless as for a physician to merely look upon a patient, and then retire. The disease must be understood, and then the remedy applied. So in the educa- tional work ; its principles must be understood, its wants known, and then the proper means employed to correct existing defects. 4. SujJer'iJitendenfs Discretion — County Board's Authority. The law makes the superintendent himself the judge as to how often it may be expedient and practicable for him to visit any particular school or schools. His visits should be as frequent as the interests of each school seem, in his judgment, to re- quire, and no more. And for exercise of his best judgment and discretion in the matter, he can not be called to account. The law imposes upon him the duty, and duty implies right. His honest acts in the visitation of schools can not be in- quired into by the county board, and payment for the service refused, except that the board may inquire whether or not he has spent, as required, one-half the time given to his office in visiting ungraded schools. To justify such a proceeding on the part of the county authorities there must be a palpable case made out, showing corruption or fraud, or a gross per- version or violation of the intent and spirit of the law by the county superintendent. A county court or board of supervi- sors, can not dictate to a county superintendent, in respect to the number, duration, or necessity of his school visitations. They may remove him from office "for any palpable violation of law, or omission of duty," but in the absence of any such palpable dereliction, they can not, in any manner, molest, re- scrict, or interfere with him in the discharge of his official duties ; and any order or resolution to that effect, would be of no force or obligation. Nor is a county superintendent to be governed, in visiting schools, by the wishes or opinions of the directors or inhabitants of the respective districts. While a request to visit a particular school would be an additional reason for doing so, a request not to visit, or silent indiffer- ence on the part of the directors and people of a particular district, would be no reason or justification for neglecting to 38 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. visit that school — but rather the contrary. The superintendent is the judge of his own actions in the premises, and will visit when, where, and as frequently as he thinks duty requires, re- gardless of the assent -or dissent, the request or protest, of either the county authorities or the people of the respective districts — subject only to the penalties prescribed for violation of law or omission of duty. As to the time that should be spent in each school visited, that also is left to the best judgment of the county superin- tendent, and he must be governed in each case by the par- ticular circumstances and condition of the school visited, keep- ing in mind the requirements of the act. It is obvious that it will require a longer stay and a closer investigation to as- certain the condition and needs of some schools, than it will of others, and no one but the county superintendent himself can decide what the duration of the visit in each case should be. If it were worth while to make a general suggestion on the subject, I would say that a visit of less than three hours, or one-half of a school-day, would not be likely to be of much use. (d) 1, Controversies — Appeals. When controversies arise, the parties are first to seek the opinion and advice of the county superintendent. If his decision is satisfactory, that ends it. If not, then the county superintendent forwards a written statement of the facts in the case, to the state super- intendent. The county superintendent, having already ex- amined the case and afforded the parties a full hearing, is familiar with all the essential points in issue, and can readily embody them in his statement to the state superintendent. But it is the intention of the law that all matters of doubt, or in respect to which information or advice is needed, should be referred, primarily, to the county superintendent. He "shall be the official adviser and constant assistant of the school officers and teachers of his county." He stands at the head of the common school system of his county, and is the proper officer to apply to on all subjects relating to the interests of the schools, and to the rights and duties of school officers and teachers in his county. It is his duty to be thoroughly ac- quainted with the law, with its official and judicial interpret- ations, and with the whole frame-work of our educational sys- SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 39 tern, and thus to be qualified as the official and intelligent adviser of all in his county who may need his assistance. This was undoubtedly contemplated in the original adjust- ment of the several classes of school officers ; it is the shortest and most natural course for the parties concerned ; it relieves the central office of an unnecessary burden, and smooths and simplifies the operations of the whole system. If the county superintendent should be unable to give the information, or to answer the questions submitted to him, it is his right and duty to apply to the state superintendent for the necessary advice or instructions, which the latter is bound to furnish — promptly and fully. But the county superintendent was in- tended to be, and is, the proper advisory and consulting offi- cer on all common school matters in his county, and as such he should be first applied to. In the great majority of cases he can furnish the desired information or counsel, and thus save much time and delay to the parties concerned. Should matters of a controversial nature be submitted to the state superintendent, he will deem it his duty to decline to consider or pass upon them until they shall have been referred to the county superintendent, as required by law. All such matters will receive prompt attention when they are received through the regular and prescribed channel, namely, through the county superintendent, and not otherwise. This is not to cause the parties needless trouble, nor to save the state super- intendent from labor, but to subserve the ends of truth and equity, and to comply with the law. The one great end sought by the prior reference to the county superintendent, is to fur- nish the state superintendent the means of rendering a just and impartial decision, should the case come before him by appeal. 2. Wisdojn of the Law. The wisdom of referring school con- troversies to superior school officers has been highly commend- ed. "We are satisfied that this supervision of the state super- intendent over the affairs of schools and school districts, com- monly very fruitful sources of litigation, has been most wisely conferred upon him for the public interest, as well as for the peace and prosperity of the schools and districts themselves." [State V. Whitford, 54 Wis., 150.] "If every dispute or con- tention among those intrusted with the administration of the system, or between the functionaries and the patrons or pu- 40 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. pils of the schools, offered an occasion for a resort to the courts for settlement, the working of the system would not only be greatly embarrassed and obstructed, but such contentions before the courts would necessarily be attended with great costs and delay, and likely generate such intestine heats and divisions as would in a great degree counteract the benevolent purposes of the law." [Wiley v. School Commissioners. 51 Md., 401. J "A quarrel or a lawsuit in a school district is generally not long confined to the original parties. It spreads among all the families, it goes into the selection of teachers, and injures the discipline of the schools ; and if the diiSculty once takes the shape of a lawsuit, and the parties have expended money as well as temper upon it, it is still more difficult to settle. Hence the provision for a cheap and speedy decision avoiding the delay and expense of a law suit." [Appeal of Cottrell, 10 R. I., 615.] 3. Hearings — How conducted. The hearings of these con- troversies and appeals are not to be conducted as suits are in a court of law. The school officer hearing the case has full discretion in all matters relating thereto since the statute pre- scribes no forms or rules to be observed. But it is, of course, as essential that parties before a superintendent have a fair hearing as that cases be fairly tried in court, both that justice may be done, and that the decisions may be approved by the community. (e) 1. Examination of Treasurer's Books, etc. Inasmuch as the law has required the county superintendent to examine treas- urer's books and papers since 1879, it is assumed that this duty has been performed annually, and that the aggregate of the township fund and of other funds shown at the date of the last examination can be taken as a starting point for the next. The examination will naturally begin with the township fund and should be directed to ascertaining whether the fund still remains as it was, or what additions it has received, or what losses, if any, it has suffered. Then the loans should be looked into, to ascertain whether the papers are in due form and whether the law has been complied with in making the loans. He is also to see that the security for each loan is sufficient. Taking up next the fund held for distribution, he should note whether the treasurer has charged himself with the proper amounts received as income of the township fund, and SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. from himself, the county superintendent, on apportionment. He should see that the account is balanced by the expendi- tures, as shown by vouchers, distribution by the trustees and cash on hand. In the account of each district he must note whether the amount distributed to it by the trustees has been passed to its credit, and whether the amount from taxes agrees with that shown in the office of the county treasurer. Eeceipts from bonds and other sources should be traced so far as prac- ticable. For all expenditures in behalf of districts, the orders paid should be called for. In all the accounts the cash which should be on hand must be verified by the county superintend- ent. In a word, the county superintendent, in making this examination, is to make it thoroughly, taking nothing for granted; the sole object being to ascertain whether the funds are each of them intact, whether the law has been complied with in handling them, and whether the accounts are accurately and intelligently kept. That the work is one of great impor- tance need not be said. 2. Superintendent may not he a Teacher or City Superintend- ent. The multiplicity and the character of the duties imposed upon the county superintendent of schools by this section are such that he cannot discharge them, and, at the same time, act as a teacher or as superintendent of a city schools ; and it is held that an attempt to do this is a violation of law. 3. May not he a Township Treasurer. The offices of county superintendent of schools and township school treasurer are plainly incompatible, and the same person may not lawfully hold both at the same time. 21. To get report from negligent trustees. § 21. In all cases where the township board of trustees of any township shall fail to prepare and forward, or cause to be prepared and forwarded, to the county superintendent, the information and statistics required of them in this act, it shall be the duty of said county superintendent to employ a competent person to take the enumeration and furnish said statistical statement, as far as practicable, to the superintendent ; and said person so employed shall have free access to the books and papers of said township to enable him to make such statement; and the township treasurer or other officer or person in whose custody such books and papers may be, shall permit said person to examine such books and papers, at such times and places as such person may desire, for the purposes aforesaid ; and the said county superintendent shall allow, and pay to the person —3 42 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS- SO employed by him, for the services, such amount as he may judge reasonable, out of any money which is or may come into said superintendent's hands, apportioned as the share of, or belonging to such township ; and the said county superin- tendent shall proceed to recover and collect the amount so allowed or paid for such services, in a civil action before any justice of the peace in the county, or before any court having jurisdiction, in the name of the People of the State of Illinois, of and against the trustees of schools of said township, in their individual capacity; and in said suit or suits the said county superintendent and township treasurer shall be competent wit- nesses ; and the money so recovered, when collected, shall be paid over to the county superintendent for the benefit of said township, to replace the money taken as aforesaid, (a) (a) Reports not returned hy Trustees. County superintendents must see that township reports are returned to them at the time and in the manner required by law, and in default should at once proceed as required by section twenty-one. If imper- fect or erroneous reports are made, they should be returned for correction, if the time will permit. If there is not time for the return of the reports for correction, or if the reports are sent back by the treasurer, still imperfect or erroneous, the superintendent should send an agent into the delinquent township, the same as if no reports had been returned. 22. Sale of land taken for debt. § 22. When any real estate shall have been taken for debts due to any school fund, the title to which real estate has become vested in any county superintendent for the use of the inhabitants of one or more townships, or of the county, the county superintendent may lease or sell such real estate for the benefit of said town- ship or townships, or of the county, under the provisions of section No. forty-one (41) of this act regulating the leasing and sales of land by school trustees : Provided, that in case the real estate be held for the benefit of any township or town- ships, it shall not be sold except upon the written request of school trustees of said township or townships; and the said superintendent is hereby authorized to execute conveyances to purchasers. [June 3— July 1, 1879.J TOWNSHIPS — TRUSTEES OF SCHOOLS. 23 . School townships — Fractional — Trustees— Cor- porate name and powers— Term of ofB.ce. § 23. Each congressional township is hereby established a township for school purposes, but when any fractional township contains less than forty persons under twenty-one years of age, the trustees thereof, upon petition of a majority of the inhabitants of such fractional township, may, by written agreement entered into SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 43 with the board of trustees of any adjacent township, consoli- date the territory, school funds and other property of such fractional township with such adjacent township, and thereafter shall cease to exercise the functions of school trustees for such fractional township ; and such territory, school funds and other property, aforesaid, shall thereafter be managed by the board of trustees of the adjacent and consolidated township, in accord- ance with the terms of agreement aforesaid, in the same man- ner as is or may be provided by law for the management of the territory, funds and other property of school townships. The business of the township shall be done by three trustees, to be elected by the legal voters of the township, who, upon their election, as hereinafter provided, shall be a body politic and corporate, by the name and style of "trustees of schools of township ...., range ....," according to the number. The said corporation shall have perpetual existence; shall have power to sue and be sued, to plead and be impleaded in all courts and places where judicial proceedings are had. Said trustees shall continue in office three years, and until others are elected and enter upon the duties of their office. At the first regular election of trustees, after the passage of this act, a successor to the trustee whose, term of office then expires shall be elected, and thereafter one trustee shall be elected annually, (a) (a) Board of Trustees a Corporation — Its Pu7'poses — Relations to the State. The board of trustees of schools created by this section is a quasi corporation, established for school purposes and no other, and deriving its powers solely from the statute. [People V. Trustees, 78 111., 136.] The relation of the state to the trustees is thus defined by the supreme Court : No act of the general assembly has ever granted the title to the school property and fund irrevocably to any body of persons. They have created corporate bodies to handle and control the fund for the use of the people; but that body has not parted with the power to control the fund in any mode they may choose for the use of schools. They could, if disposed, deprive those to whom its management is intrusted of the fund, and intrust it to others. Whilst the increase of the fund should be ex- pended in the support of schools, the manner or the agency employed may be at all times controlled or changed by the state at pleasure. The state is virtually a trustee of the fund for the use of the people, and the municipalities and officers are but the agencies employed by the state in executing its trust. [City of Chicago v. People, 80 111., 384.] 44 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 2. No Connection toith Civil Toivns. Except as provided in this section and in Sec. 84, alterations of school townships may not be made by the boards of trustees or by the voters resident in the territory concerned. The civil towns as estab- lished in ^'counties under township organization" have nothing to do with school townships, [Greenleaf\. Trustees, 22 111., 236.] 3. Division of a Township by Legislature. If a part of a township is set off by the legislature to another township, and no provision is made in the act for a division of the township fund, no division can be made. [People v. Trustees, 86 111., 613,] 24. Who eligible. § 24. No person shall be eligible to the office of trustee of schools, unless twenty-one years of age, and a resident of the township. And where there are three or more school districts in any township, no two trustees shall reside, whea elected, in the same school district, (a) [May 23- July 1, 1877.] (a) 1. Eligibility The last part of section 42 declares that one person may not hold, at the same time, the office of school trustee and that of school director. Section 32 provides that the school treasurer may not be either a trustee or a director. But these clauses of the law must not be held to render a man holding one of these offices ineligible to either of the others. They do, however, make the offices incompatible in law as well as in fact ; and, hence, if a man who is a director is elected a trustee and accepts the office, he thereby vacates the office of director. When a part of a township has been made a special district, and so excluded from the jurisdiction of the trustees of schools, it has been held by a circuit court that the voters of that district could not vote for school trustees of the town- ship. But, even in such a case, a resident of the special dis- trict is eligible to the office of trustee, for he is a resident of the township ; the treasurer, also, may be a resident of the special district. That a man may vote at a township school election, one requisite is that he must have been a resident of the state one year next prior to the election. He must have the same quali- fication to be elected trustee ; and, in addition, he must be, bona fide, a resident of the township at the time of the election. But residence in the township for thirty days prior thereto, and for ninety days in the county, are not conditions of eligi- bility to the office, as they are of voting. SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 45 2, Ojjice not vacated. A trustee does not vacate his office by moving, after his election, into a district in which another trustee resides. cl. May he a Teacher. The school trustee may be a teacher in his township ; the two positions are not incompatible. 4. A Borroiver of Township Funds is Eligible. A borrower of the township school fund is eligible to the office of trustee; but see Sec. 42, note (e). 5. Ability to read and ivrite. The law does not make ability to read and write a test of eligibility to school offices. The good sense of the people must be relied upon to prevent the election of such men to such positions. The best and most intelligent men should be chosen for all educational offices. 25. Elections, first and subsequent— Notices — Post- ponement—Vacancy — County superintendent may or- der election. § 25. The election of trustees of schools shall be on the second Saturday in April, annually ; but in town- ships where such election has not been heretofore had, or where there are no trustees of schools, the election of trustees of schools may be holden on any Saturday, notice being given as hereinafter in this section required. The first elec- tion shall be ordered, if in townships already incorporated, by the trustees of schools of the township, the township treasurer giving notice of the time and place by posting notices of the same at least ten days previous to the day of election, in not less than five of the most public places in the township, {a) If there are no trustees of schools in a township, the county clerk shall cause the notice to be given as aforesaid, and in such case the trustees elected, at their first meeting, shall draw lots for their respective terms of office for one, two and three years, and thereafter one trustee shall be elected, annu- ally, to fill the vacancy occurring. For all subsequent elections the like notices * shall be given by the trustees of schools, through the township treasurer : Provided, that if upon any day appointed as aforesaid, for election aforesaid, the saidjtrust- ees of schools, or judges, shall be of opinion that, on account of the small attendance of voters, the public good requires it, or if the voters present, or a majority of them, shall desire it, they shall postpone said election until the next Saturday, and at the same place and hour ; at which meeting the voters shall proceed as if it were not a postponed or adjourned meeting: (6) And, provided, also, that if notice shall not have been given as above required, then, and in that case, said election may be ordered as aforesaid, and holden on the first Saturday in May, or any other Saturday, notice thereof being given as aforesaid : And, provided, also, that if the township treasurer Form No. 6. 46 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. shall fail or refuse to give notice of the regular election of trustees, as aforesaid, and if, in case of a vacancy, the remain- ing trustee or trustees shall fail or refuse to order an election to fill such vacancy, as required in section twenty-nine of this act, then, and in each case, it shall be the duty of the county superintendent to order an election of trustees to fill such vacancies, as aforesaid ; and all elections so ordered and held shall be valid to all intents and purposes whatever, (c) (a) Time and Place of Election — Notice. The time and the place of an election are essential matters, and inasmuch as the law, while naming the day for the election, does not fix the time during the day definitely, and in no way determines the place, a notice which shall name with exactness both the time and the place is a condition precedent of a valid election of a school trustee. The day of posting the notices, but not the day of the election, may be counted to make the ten days, during which the notices must be up, prior to the election. The notice must state what is to be done at the election. (h) Postponement. In order that the postponement of an election for a school trustee may be legally effected, either an adjournment must be made, on their own motion for cause, by the trustees acting, ex officio, as judges of the election, or by the judges chosen in their place by the voters, [Sec. 26] ; or it must be made by the judges at the request of a ma- jority of the voters present. That is, there must be a formal organization to conduct the election, and a subsequent formal adjournment. Informal action by voters present, without or- ganization, will not preclude the voters who may go to the place of election, from organizing later in the day and holding a legal election ; nor will it suffice to carry over the election to the next Saturday, so that a legal election may be held then. In case of an adjournment, the judges should post a no- tice of it at the place of meeting. [People v. Brewer, 20 111., 474.] (c) 1. Vacancies to he filled. Section 23 provides that school trustees shall continue in office until others are elected and enter upon the duties of their office ; but the last part of this section shows clearly that it is not the intention of the law that they should "hold over." It is the purpose of the law that all vacancies in the board shall be promptly filled. 2. Election ordered by County Superintendent in Township in two Counties. In townships divided by county lines, the elec- tion may, if practicable, be ordered by the two superintendents SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 47 jointly. If this can not be done, the election may be ordered by the superintendent of the county in which the sixteenth section of such township is situated. The election can not be allowed to go by default through supposed lack of jurisdiction on the part of the respective superintendents. The foregoing rule, in such emergencies, is sustained by the principle recog- nized in the last clause of the thirty-seventh section of the act, and is the only perceivable mode of procedure in such cases. 3. Province of County Superintendent in calling Elections. When by failure of the proper officer to call an election it be- comes the duty of the county superintendent to call it, all that is required of him is to post the notices of the election in the manner prescribed in the law. The election will then be held and conducted in the usual way. 26. Judges of election — Clerk. § 26. The trustees of schools of incorporated townships, present, shall act as judges, and choose a person to act as clerk of said election. If said trustees (or any of them) shall fail to attend, or refuse to act when present, the electors present shall choose from their own number such additional judges as may be necessary; and in townships unincorporated, the qualified voters present shall choose from amongst themselves the number of judges required to open and conduct said election. 27. General election laws to govern. § 27. The time and manner of opening, conducting and closing said election, and the several liabilities appertaining to the judges and clerks, and to the voters separately and collectively, and the manner of contesting said election, shall be the same as prescribed by the general election laws of this state defining the manner of electing magistrates and constables, so far as applicable, sub- ject to the provisions of this act : (a) Provided, that said elec- tion may commence, if so specified in the notice, at any hour between the hours of eight (8) A. M. and one (I) P. M., and the judges may close such election at four P. M. : Polling places. And provided, further, that in townships where, for general elections, there is more than one (1) polling place, the trustees shall give notice that at each of said poll- ing places a poll will be opened for such election, in which case at least one (1) of said trustees shall attend at each of said places, and additional judges shall be chosen as provided in section twenty-six (26) of the act to which this is an amend- ment; should the polling places be in excess of the number of trustees, then the voters at such polling places so in excess- shall select from their number the requisite number of voters, who shall act as judges of said election, in the manner pro- vided by said section twenty-six (26). (&) 48 SCHOOL LiWS AND DECISIONS. Election at town meeting. And in counties adopting township organization, in each and every township whose boundaries coincide and are identical with those of the town, as estabhshed under the township organization laws, the trust- ee or trustees shall be elected at the same time and in the same manner as the town officers ; and ail elections heretofore held at such time and in such manner in such townships are hereby legalized. And in all such townships, if no trustees are elected at the stated town meeting, and when vacancies occur in the board, an election of trustee or trustees shall be ordered by the trustees of schools, through the township treasurer, as provided in the twenty-fifth (25th) section of this act. (c) [May 31— July 1, 1881.] 1. Judges and Clerk to he sivorn — Not Paid. That the elec- tion may be conducted in a lawful manner, the judges and clerk should be sworn. The oath may be administered by any justice or judge if present ; if none is present the judges and clerk may administer the oath to each other. Neither the trustees acting as judges nor voters chosen to act as judges receive any pay therefor. 2. Voting hy Ballot— Ballots must he Specific. The voting must be by ballot. If there are two trustees to be elected, one for a full term and one to fill a vacancy, the ballots should show plainly which of the persons named thereon is to hold the full and which the short term. For example : "For fuh term, John Smith." "For short term, Henry Wihiams." Failing to make the ballots specific leads to confusion ; for if there are two names on a ballot and neither is named for a particular term, the will of the voter can not be ascertained from the ballot. If the respective terms of office are not so designated on any of the ballots, then the judges may deter- mine by lot, on the day of the election, which of the two men receiving the highest number of ballots shall take the long and which the short term. But if any of the ballots cast are specific, they alone must be counted, to the exclusion of the others which are not specific ; and the election must be given to the men receiving the highest number of votes on ballots specifying the term on their face. 3. Toiunship a Voting Precinct. For the purposes of this election, the township constitutes a voting precinct, and the SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 49 general law in regard to residence as a qualification of a voter applies — the year next prior to the election in the state, ninety days in the county and thirty days in the precinct. But when a township is divided by a county line, the state superintendent rules, with the approval of the attorney general, that a man does not lose his right to vote by moving across the county line, but not out of the township, within ninety days prior to the election. The same rule is applicable to elections in school •districts lying in two counties. 4. Residence of Voter. A permanent abode is necessary to constitute residence within the meaning of our election laws. But a residence is not lost until a new one is acquired, and a removal for several months, when no new residence is acquired, is held not to forfeit residence for the purpose of voting. [Rev. Statutes, 111., § 66, chap. 46; Wilkins v. Marshall, 80 111., 74; City of Beardstown v. City of Virginia, 81 111., 541.] 5. Challenges — Rejection oj Votes. But the judges or voters may challenge the right to vote of persons not known to be voters, and the person challenged must swear in his vote. The penalties for swearing in a vote illegally, or for voting illegally at a general election, apply also to the same offenses at a school election. Any judge or clerk of a school election who shall knowingly admit any person to vote who is not qualified by law, is liable io punishment by fine, etc. But when a vote is tendered, and the voter, being challenged, complies with the requirements of the law in such cases made and provided, the judges have no •discretion, but must receive the vote, unless it is proved, to the satisfaction of a majority of the judges, that the voter has sworn falsely. [Spragins v. Houghton, 2 Scam., 408.] 6. Making up the Return. The clerk of the election must keep a poll-book, and, when the judges and the clerk count the vote, they should make up a tally sheet and should set down in the poll- book the names of the candidates with the offices for which they received votes, recording the number of votes, and should certify to the same over their signatures. They should also publicly announce the result of the election. 7. Plurality — Tie. A plurality of votes elects ; a tie vote must be settled by the judges on the day of the election, as provided in the next section. O ' SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 8. Highest Candidate Ineligible. If it should prove that the candidate who received the highest vote was ineligible, there must be a new election ; the next highest candidate cannot take the office. 9. Ballots more than Names— Reverse. If the number of bal- lots is greater than the number of names on the poll book, the excess of ballots must be destroyed, as directed in the general election law. [§ 57, Chap. 46, Rev. Stat. III.] The reverse sometimes happens. Where the names of the voters recorded by the clerk exceed the number of ballots found in the box, the judges in that case should be governed by the ballots, and cer- tify to the election of the man who received the highest vote. 10. When the Judges have adjourned. When the board of judges has discharged its functions and dissolved, it has ceased to exist, and the members can not come together and constitute the board again for the performance of omitted duties. If the board has adjourned leaving the election a tie, there must be a new election. 11. Informalities in Elections. If an election is actually held on some other day than that fixed by law, or with some infor- mality in the election, having been ordered and acquiesced in by the former officers, the acts of officers so elected, holding their offi- ces under color of right, are valid so far as third parties and the public are concerned, until the election is legally contested and set aside. A mere irregularity in conducting an election, which deprives no legal voter of his vote, and does not change the result, does not invalidate an election. The legality of an elec- tion does not depend upon the declaration of the board of elec- tion ; if such declaration is withheld, or not made through illegal causes, the office will vest nevertheless, for the authority, rights and powers of officers are derived from the election, and not from the returns. In contested elections, the intention of the voters in casting their ballots should control; and effect must be given to that intention. To defeat an election on the ground that the polls were not duly opened and closed, it must be shown that the irregularity affects enough votes to change the result of the election. [People v. Kildvff, 15 Ih., 492 ; Peo- ple V. Matteson, 17 111., 167; Piatt v. People, 29 111., 54.] 12. Contest. A contest must be brought before the county judge, as provided in § 98, Chap. 46, Rev. Stat. III., Elections.. [Simons V. People, 18 111. App. (18 Brad.), 588.] SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 51 (b) 1. Counting the Vote when there is more than one Polling Place. When this clause was added to the law, provision should have been made for aggregating the votes cast at the several polling places, so as to ascertain and declare the result for the whole township. In the absence of any such provision in the law, the state superintendent ruled that the judges at each polling place should perform their duties under the law as if theirs was the only polling place in the township, includ- ing the making of the returns to the county superintendent, as required by Sec. 30, but that they should return forthwith to the township treasurer the original poll-book, tally-sheet and ballots, and that the trustees aggregate the votes as shown by the certificates on the poll books, and declare the result and file a copy of their declaration with the county superintendent. 2. Polling Places in Certain Cases. When the civil town and school township do not coincide in territory, it will often happen that an election district will lie partly in one school township and partly in another, and then one part will not have within it any place where the polls are opened at the general election ; and the law does not say what provision the trustees shall make so that voters in such fractional district may vote at the township school election. In Simons v. Dun- ning, 119 111., 617, it appears that in the case of two fractional election districts lying together, each having within its limits a polling place for the general election, the trustees ignored these places and gave notice of one polling place for the two fractions, and so held the election. The court upheld the action of the trustees. It would seem, therefore, that the trustees may be held to have discretion with regard to such fractions of voting districts, and that they may in the notices of the election direct voters thereof to vote at an adjacent polling place. But no one may be prevented from voting for want of enough voting places or on account of the place at which the votes are to be taken. {Ihid.l (c) 1. The election of a township trustee or trustees at the town meeting must be pursuant to notice by the town clerk and by the same ballots as the other officers. A vacancy ex- isting at the time of this election may be filled then. 2. Election under Law of June 19, 1885. For the manner of conducting the election when the township lies in whole or 52 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. in part within any city, village or incorporated town, v/hicli has adopted the election law of June 19, 1885, see Sec. 126. 28. Qualifications of voters— Tie. § 28. No person shall vote at said election, nor at any other election held in pursu- ance of the provisions of this act, unless he possesses the quali- fications of a voter at a general election. In case of a tie at such election, it shall be determined by lot, on the day of election, by the judges thereof, (a) (a) Qualifications of Voters, jb'or comments on the qualifi- cations of voters, see Sec. 27, note (a), and Sec. 79, note (a), 6. 29. Election to fill vacancy. § 29. AVhen a vacancy or vacancies shall occur in the board of trustees of schools, the remaining trustee or trustees shall order an election to fill such vacancy, upon any Saturday, notice to be given as required in section twenty-five hereof, (a) {a) Resignation — Vacancies. Regarding resignations and va- cancies, sections 124 and 125, Eev. Stat. 111., have the following: "Resignations of elective offices shall be made to the officer, court or county board authorized by law to fill a vacancy in such office by appointment, or to order an election to fill such vacancy. Every elective office shall become vacant on the happening of either of the following events, before the expiration of the term of such ofiice : First — The death of the incumbent. Second — His resignation. TJiird — His becoming insane. Fourth — His ceasing to be an inhabitant of the state ; o r, the office is local, his ceasing to be an inhabitant of the dis- trict, county, town or precinct for which he was elected. Fifth — His conviction of an infamous crime, or of any offense involving a violation of official oath. Sixth — His removal from office. _ Seventh — His refusal or neglect to take his oath of office, or to give or renew his official bond, or to deposit or file such oath or bond within the time prescribed by law. [As to official oath, see Sec. 82, note (h), 3.] Eighth — The decision of a competent tribunal declaring his election void." On filling vacancies, see Sec. 25, note {c), and Sec. 27, note (c). On resignation, see Sec. 13, note {a), 2. 30. E,eturn of election — Penalty. § 30. Upon the elec- tion of trustees of schools, the judges of the election shall, within ten (10) days thereafter, cause a copy of the poll-book of said election to be delivered to the county superintendent of the county, with a certificate thereon, showing the election of SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 53 said trustees and names of the persons elected*; which copy of the poll-book with the certificate, shall be filed by said su- perintendent and shall be evidence of such election, (a) For failure to deliver said copy of the poll-book and certificate within the time prescribed, the judges shall be liable to a pen- alty of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100), to be recovered in the name of the People of the State of Illinois, by action of assumpsit, before any justice of the peace of the county; which penalty when collected shall be added to the township fund of the township. When school trustees are elected at town meetings, as provided in section twenty-seven of this act, it shall be the duty of the county clerk, as soon as the list of the names of officers elected at the town meetings is filed with them, to give the county su- perintendent a list of the names of all school trustees elected at the town meetings in the county. [June 3 — July 1, 1879.] (a) 1. Failure to make Return. A failure on the part of the judges to deliver a copy of the poll-book to the county su- perintendent, as required, makes the judges liable to the pen- alty prescribed for such failure ; but it does not invalidate the election. The title to the office rests upon the fact of the elec- tion, not upon the fact that certain evidence of that election has been preserved in a certain way. 2. Poll Book is Evidence. The copy of the poll book filed with county superintendent is evidence of the election. But if it should be lost, other evidence may be taken to support the elec- tion; and the evidence of the poll book even may be rebutted. 3. J'he Counti) Superintendent Custodian only of the Return. The return of the election is filed with the county superin- tendent, whose duty it is simply to receive it and keep it on file. He has no power to pass upon the return and reject it, or to declare the election void. He may point out any correc- tions needed in the return; but when the election has been held and some one declared elected, that person may enter upon his office, and any questions as to the legality of his election must be settled by a contest or by quo ivarranto proceedings, unless he consents that they be settled otherwise. 31. Trustees successors of former ofiScers. §31. The said trustees of schools, elected as aforesaid, shall be succes- sors to the trustees of school lands appointed by the county commissioners' court, and of trustees of schools elected in townships, under the provisions of "An act making provisions for organizing and maintaining common schools," approved February 26, 1841, and "An act to establish and maintain com- * Forms Nos. 7, 8 and 9 54 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. mon schools," approved March 1, 1847. All rights of property and rights and causes of action, existing or vested in the trust- ees of school lands or trustees of schools, appointed or elected as aforesaid, for the use of the inhabitants of the township or any part of them, shall vest in the trustees of schools as suc- cessors, in as full and complete a manner as was vested in the school commissioner (the trustees of school lands), or the trust- ees of schools appointed and elected as aforesaid. 32 . Meeting's - Organization — President — Treasurer to be clerk^Records. § 32. It shall be the duty of the board of trustees to liold regular semi-annual meetings on the first Monday of April and October, and special meetings may be held at such other times as they may think proper.* Spe- cial meetings of the board may be called by the president or any two members thereof ; and at all meetings, two members of the board shall be a quorum for business, (a) Within ten days after the annual election of trustees, the board shall or- ganize by appointing one of their number president, and some person, who shall not be a director or trustee, and who shall be a resident of the township, treasurer, if there be a vacancy in this office, who shall be ex-officio clerk of the board. The president shall hold his office one year, and the treasurer for two years, and until their successors are appointed ; but either of said officers may be removed by the board for good cause, (b) It shall be the duty of the president to preside at the meet- ings of the board ; and it shall be the duty of the clerk to be present at all meetings of the board, and to record in a book to be provided for the purpose, all their official proceedings which shall be a public record, open to the inspection of any person interested therein ; and all of said proceedings, when recorded, shall be signed by the president and clerk, (c) If the president or clerk shall be absent or refuse to perform any of the duties of his office, at any meeting of tiie board, a presi- dent or clerk pro tempore may be appointed. [June 3 — July 1, 1879.] (a) 1. Trustees must act at Meetings. A corporation, such as the board of township trustees of schools is, [§ 23] acts lawfully only when assembled in its corporate capacity. The members of the body, acting independently, cannot bind the corporation; nor does the assent of a majority, or even of all the members of the board, to any proposition bind the corpor- ation, if that assent is given by the members separately, with- out the coming together of the board. Eegular meetings may be provided for by a rule of the board. Special meetings may be called, as provided in the law. Any mere coming together of two members of the board, without previous arrangement, Porm No. 10. SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 55 is not such a special meeting as is meant by the law. It is true that two members of the board constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but when two happen to meet, business of the district cannot lawfully be transacted. The call that is required implies something more. It is not held that there need be any great formality about the call of a special meeting ; but either the president must call it, or two members must agree to call it ; and the members of the board — all of them if practicable — must have reasonable notice of the time and place. So much at least is essential ; and any attempt on the part of two members of a school board to ignore the third member in the transaction of business, which goes to the ex- tent of not making any effort to give him notice of a special meeting, will make such meeting illegal, if held in his absence. [Directors v. Jennings, 10 111., App. (10 Brad.), 643; State v. Treasurer, 22 Ohio St., IM; Aikman v. School district, 27 Kas., 129 ; District v Faclden, 89 Pa. St., 395 ; Hazen v. Lerche, 47 Mich., 626; Townsend v. Trustees, 41 N. J. L., 312; People v. Peters, 4 Neb., 254.] 2. Quorum. At all the meetings of the board two members constitute a quorum, and may transact any business which is properly before it and within the scope of its official duty. Public agents may act by majorities, provided all are present, or have proper notice to be present. [Schojield v. Watkins, 22 111., 66.] It has been claimed that this case last cited war- rants the conclusion that business may be done or a contract made by two members concurring, without there being a meet- ing of the corporate body. But a careful reading of the opinion shows that it goes to the extent only, that a meeting of the board will be presumed, whenever a majority of the board acts, until the contrary appears ; that the act of a majority must be attacked in some direct proceeding, if at all, and that it cannot be called in question in a collateral proceeding. The only safe rule for a board to follow has been stated above. But the object of giving a notice to a member is that he may attend. If, therefore, it is known that the third member of a board is away at such a distance that he cannot be reached by a notice in time for the meeting, a failure to notify him would not invalidate the meeting. [Ibid.; Porter v. Robinson, S. C. Keports, N. Y., Hun. 30, 209.] 56 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 1. Organization, (b) The duty of the trustees to meet with- m ten days after the election and effect an organization, so that the board may be ready for the transaction of any busi- ness, is clearly stated in the law; but the trustees do not, by neglecting this duty, vacate their offices, so that another elec- tion must be called to fill them. The trustees failing to meet and organize, as directed by the law, are liable to a fine there- for [§ 76] ; but the organization may be made after the ten days have elapsed. 2. Appohitment of Treasurer. By amendment of this section, made in 1879, the treasurer's term of office was lengthened from one year to two years, and the time for the first appoint- ment, under the law as amended, was held to be at the meet- ing for organization after the election in April of 1880. It was also held that the term was fixed at two years: that the man appointed to fill a vacancy occurring any time during the two years would hold for the unexpired term, and that the board must regularly appoint a treasurer at its meeting for organiza- tion after the election in April of each even-numbered year. This ruling was made with the approval of the attorney-general. Boards of trustees have sometimes made the appointment of a treasurer at the regular meeting in April, occurring on the first Monday; but this may not be done lawfully except in townships in which the trustee has been elected at a town meeting held before the first Monday. In such a case the first duty at the regular meeting would be to organize the board, which would, in even-numbered years, include appointing a treasurer. In all other cases, the meeting for organization, and, consequently, for appointment of the treasurer, must come subsequent to the regular meeting. 3. Oath of Office not required. The supreme court has held that a township treasurer need not take an official oath upon assuming his office ; and the rule as laid down by the court exempts also school trustees, school directors and members of boards of education. [Directors v. People, 79 111., 511.] This opinion of the supreme court seems to have been overlooked by the Appellate Court of the First District in Simons v. People, 18 App. 111. (18 Brad.), 588. (c) Records. Many matters of importance go into the records of trustees. Hence they should be kept accurately and in per- manent form. SCHOOL LAWS AND DilCISIONS. 57. 33. Division into districts — Map — Changes. § 33. Trustees of schools in newly organized townships shall lay off the townships into one or more districts to suit the wishes and convenience of a majority of the inhabitants of the township, and shall prepare or cause to be prepared a map of the town- ship on which map shall be designated the district or districts^ to be styled, when there are more than one district : "District No. — , in township No. — , range , of the — P. M, (according to the proper number), county of , and State of Illinois." (a) And when petitioned so to do, as hereinafter provided, they may, having discretion in the matter, at the regular meeting in April, change such districts as lie wholly within their townships so as to divide or consolidate districts, to organize a new district out of territory belonging to two or more districts, or to detach territory from one district and add the same to another district adjacent thereto, and at the same meeting, by the concurrent action of the several boards of trustees of the townships in which the district or districts affected lie, each board being petitioned as hereinafter provided, the same changes may be made in the boundaries, both of dis- tricts which lie in separate townships but adjacent to each other, and of districts formed of parts of two or more townships, (b) Petitions. Provided, that none of these changes shall be made unless petitioned for (1) by a majority of the legal voters of each of the districts affected by the proposed change* ; or (2) by two-thirds (f ) of the legal voters living within certain territory described in the petition, asking that said ter- ritory be detached from one district and added to another!, or (3) by two-thirds (f ) of all the legal voters living within certain territory containing not less than ten (10) families, asking that said territory be made a new district!, (c) Bonded debt. But in case any territory be set off from any district that has a bonded debt, the change not being peti- tioned for by a majority of the legal voters of said district, such district shall remain liable for the payment of such bonded debt as if not divided. The directors of the original district having such bonded debts, and of the district into which the territory taken from such original district has been incorporated or formed, shall constitute a joint board for the purpose of de- termining and certifying, and they shall determine and certify to the county clerk the amount of tax required yearly for the purpose of paying the interest and principal of such bonded debt, which tax shall be extended by the county clerk against all the property embraced within such original district as if it had not been divided, {d) Vote instead of petition. Provided also, that in school districts having a population of not less than one thousand (1,000) inhabitants, any desired change of boundaries may be *Forni No. 11. tForm No. 13. :Form No. 12. —4 58 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. submitted to the trustees by a vote of the people instead of by petition as hereinbefore set forth ; and when petitioned so to do by twenty-live legal voters of the district, the school board of the district shall submit the question of change desired to the voters of said district at a special election called for that purpose, and held at least thirty (30) days prior to the regular meeting of the trustees at which they consider change of dis- trict boundaries. If a majority of the votes cast at any such election shall be in favor of the change proposed, then due return of the election having been made to the township treas- urer, the township trustees shall consider and take action the same as if petitioned therefor by a majority of the legal voters of such district ; but no question of change of boundaries shall be submitted to a vote of the school district more than once in any one (1) year, (e) Notice to districts interested. Provided, further, that no petition shall be acted upon by any board of trustees unless it shall have been filed with the clerk of said board of trustees twenty days before the regular meeting in April, nor unless a copy of said petition together with a notice in writing, which notice may be in the following form, to-wit : The directors of district No , in tov-nsliip No .range of the principal meridian, will take notice that the undersigned have made and filed with the clerk of the board of trustees of said township their petition, a copy of which is herewith handed to you. shall be delivered by the petitioners, or some one of them, at least ten (10) days before the date at which the petition is to be considered, to the president or clerk of the board of direct- ors of each district whose boundaries will be changed if the petition is granted.* (/) Action on petition— Adjournment to perfect petition. When, at the regular meeting of the trustees in April, any such petition shall come before the trustees, it shall be the duty of the trustees to ascertain, first, whether the foregoing provisions have been strictly complied with, and if it shall appear that they or either of them have not been complied with, in such case the board shall adjourn the hearing for not longer than four (4) weeks in order that the foregoing provisions may be complied with; but there shall be but one adjournment for such purpose. After the trustees shall consider the petition no objections can be raised as to its form, and their action shall be prima facie evidence that all the foregoing provisions have been complied with. If on the day of the regular meeting, or at the adjourned meeting it shall appear that such provisions have been complied with, then the trustees shall consider the petition, and shall also hear any legal voters living in the dis- trict or districts that will be affected by the change, if made, who may appear before them to oppose the petition ; and they shall grant or refuse the prayer of the petitioners without un- reasonable delay, (g) * Form No. 15. SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 59 Appeals — Same -when to"wnship is in t-wo counties. But the petitioners or the legal voters who have appeared before the trustees at the meeting when the petition was con- sidered, and opposed the same, shall have the right of appeal to the county superintendent of schools* : Provided, the party appealing files with the clerk of the trustees a written notice of appeal, within ten (10) days after final action upon the petition by the trustees : Provided, further, that in all cases where a township is divided by a county line or lines, the appeal may be taken to the county supermtendent of sclaools of any one of the counties in which the said township is partly located, and upon any appeal being taken in any such case, the county superintendent of schools to whom such appeal is taken shall, forthwith, give notice to the county superintendent or superintendents of schools of the other county or counties of the pendency of such appeal, and of the time and place, when and where it will be heard, and the said county super- intendents of schools of the counties in which the said town- ship is located, shall meet together, at such time and place, and together hear and determine the said appeal, and in case the said county superintendents of schools shall be unable to arrive at an agreement, then the county judge of the county in which such appeal is pending shall be called and shall con- stitute one of the board of appeal, and thereupon the appeal shall be heard and determined by them, and the county super- intendent of schools to whom such appeal is taken shall at once notify, in writing, the clerk by whom the papers in the case were transmitted to him, of the action taken on such ap- peal, as hereinafter provided : (h) Elections in district in two counties. And, 2Jro- vided, farther, that where a school district is now, or may hereafter be, located in two or more counties, the directors of such district may fix a place of holding general or special elections for school purposes in said district in either of said counties in the same manner as is now provided for holding school elections. And the legal voters of said school district shall be entitled to vote at such election the same as though such election was held in the county where he resides, (i) Record and map of change filed -with county clerk — Organization of new district. Whenever any changes, as provided in this section, are made by the trustees of schools, if no appeal is taken to the county superintendent the clerk of the trustees shall make a complete copy of the record of the action of the trustees, which copy shall be certified by the president of the trustees and the clerk, who shall file the same, together with a map of the township, showing the districts, and an accurate list of the taxpayers of the newly arranged districts, with the county clerk within twenty (20) days of the *Forms Nos. l(i and 17. 60 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. action of the trustees. When the trustees of schools shall or- ganize a new district under the provisions of this section, it shall be the duty of the clerk of the trustees, if no appeal is taken to the county superintendent, to order, within fifteen (15) days after the action of the trustees, an election to be held at some convenient time and place within the boundaries of such newly organized district, for the election of three (3) school directors, notice being given by the township treasurer, who shall post up three (3) notices of such election in three (3) prominent places in said district at least ten (10) days prior to the time appomted for holding such election, which notices shall specify the place where such election is to be held, the time for opening and closing the polls, and the object of said election. It shall be the duty of the legal voters present, five (5) of whom shall constitute a quorum, to appoint three (3) of their number, two (2) of whom shall act as judges and one (1) as clerk of said election. Within ten (10) days after the elec- tion it shall be the duty of the directors elected at said elec- tion to meet at some convenient time and place, previously agreed upon by said directors, and organize as a district board by appointing one (1) of their number president, and also some suitable person clerk of the board, who shall, by virtue of his ofhce, be clerk of the district. At the first meeting of the directors they shall draw lots for their respective terms of office one (1), two (2) and three (3) years, each of which shall be considered a fractional term, ending at each annual meeting, according to the length of term drawn, (j) Hearing- of appeal by county superintendents When an appeal is taken from the action of the trustees to the county superintendent, the clerk of the trustees shall, within five (5) days after the written notice of the appeal has been filed with him by the appellants, transmit all the papers in the case, with a transcript of the records of the trustees, show- ing their action thereon, to the county superintendent, and in case of an appeal, the township treasurer shall be required to take no further action in the matter, except upon the order of the county superintendent whose duty it sball be to investigate the case upon such appeal, and if, in his opinion, the change asked for is for the best interests of the district or districts concerned, he shall make such change or changes, but if he considers the proposed change unadvisable, he shall refuse to make it, and shall, reverse, if need be, the action of the trust- ees, and shall give the clerk from whom he received the papers immediate notice of such refusal, and his action shall be final and binding. If the changes asked for by the petitioners shall be made by the county superintendent, he shall notify, in writ- ing, the clerk by whom the papers in the case were transmit- ted to him, of his action, and the clerk shall thereupon make a record of the same, and shall, within ten (10) days thereafter, make a copy of the same and the map and list of taxpayers. SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 61 and deliver them to the county clerk for filing and record by him, the same as if the change had been ordered by the trust- ees, and in case a new district is organized by the action of the county superintendent, the clerk shall, within five (5) days thereafter, order an election of directors in the new district the same as if the change had been made by the board of trust- ees, (h) Division of funds — Adjustment of property and debts — Trustees liable — Distribution authorized, if heretofore neglected. Whenever a new district has been formed by the trustees, or by the county superintendent, from a part of a district or from parts of two (2) or more districts, the trustees of the township or townships concerned shall proceed, forth- with, to make a distribution of any tax funds or other funds which are in the hands of the treasurer, or to which the dis- trict may, at the time of such division, be entitled, so that both the old and new districts shall receive part of such funds in proportion to the amount of taxes collected next preceding such division, from the taxable property in the territory com- posing the several districts. If the new district be composed of parts of two (2) or more districts, the trustees shall make distribution of said funds between the new district and the old districts respectively, so that the new district shall receive a distribution of the funds of each of the old districts in the proportion which the amount of taxes collected from the prop- erty in the territory of the new district bears to the whole taxes collected, next before the division, in the old district ; and the town treasurer shall, forthwith, place the sum so dis- tributed to the credit of the respective districts, and shall, im- mediately, place the proportion of the said funds to which said new district may be entitled to its credit on his books, and the funds on hand shall be subject, at once, to the order of the directors of the new district, and those not on hand as soon as collected. The trustees of the township or townships con- cerned, shall, at the time of the creation of a new district, or within the period of thirty (30) days thereafter, proceed to the appointment of three appraisers, who shall not be citizens of the township or townships interested. It shall be the duty of said appraisers, within thirty (30) days after their appointment, to appraise the school property, both real and personal, of the district or districts interested, at its fair cash value. Within thirty (30) days after such appraisement, the trustees of the township or townships concerned shall proceed to charge the property to the district in which it may be found, and to credit the other district interested therein with its proportion of such valuation: Provided, that the bojia fide debts, if any, of ihe old district, shall first be deducted and the balance charged and credited as aforesaid, and of the funds then on hand, or subsequently to accrue, belonging to such district to which such property is charged, the trustees shall direct the treasurer to place to the credit of the district not retaining said property 62 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. its proportion of the value of said property. If trustees shall fail to observe the provisions of this section in reference to distribution of funds and property, they shall be individually and jointly liable to the district interested, in an action on the case, to the full amount of the damages sustained by the dis- trict aggrieved. Where trustees have heretofore failed to make distribution of property to districts, as provided in this section, any district interested in the making of such distribution may, by its directors, request the trustees, in writing, to proceed to make such distribution ; and said trustees shall proceed to make distribution in the manner herein prescribed, and shall be liable in like manner for neglect or failure, (k) Clerk liable. The clerk of any board of trustees who shall fail, neglect or refuse to perform the duties imposed upon him by this section, or any of them, within the time and in the manner prescribed, shall for each offense, forfeit not less than ten dollars ($10), nor more than twenty-five dollars ($25) of his pay as clerk of the board of trustees and township treas- urer, which forfeiture shall be enforced by trustees, (l) District dissolved upon failure for two years to have a school. If any school district shall for two (2) consec- utive years, fail to maintain a public school, as required by law to do, it shall be the duty of the trustees of schools of the township or townships in which such district lies, to attach the territory of such district to one (1) or more adjoining school districts ; and in case said territory is added to two (2) or more districts, to divide the property of said district between the districts to which its territory is added in the manner herein provided for the division of property in case a new district is organized from part of another district, and the action of the trustees in such a case shall be final and binding; and the clerk of the trustees in such cases shall file a copy of the record of the same, together with the map and list of tax-payers, with the county clerk, as in other cases of change of district bound- aries. (?w) Union district dissolved. The majority of the legal voters f a district lying in two (2) or more townships, may secure t he dissolution of said district by petitioning the several boards of trustees of said township, at their regular meeting in April, that each will add the territory belonging to said district in its township to one (1) or more adjoining districts. Upon re- ceipt of such petition, or returns of such election, the several boards of trustees shall each make such disposition of the ter- ritory of [so much of] said district as lies in its township, and shall jointly make such division of the property of said district between the districts to which its territory is attached as is hereinbefore provided in the case of the organization of a new district from a part of another district, and the action of the trustees, in accordance with such petition or election, shall be final and binding, and the clerks of the several boards of trust- SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 63 ees in such case shall file a copy of the record of the same, together with the map and list of tax-payers, with the county clerk, as in other cases of change of district boundaries. [May 23— July 1, 1877 ; June 3— July 1, 1879 ; May 31— Julv 1, 1881 ; June 4— July 1, 1887.] (a) 1. School Districts should include all Territory, All the township should be included in the school districts of the township as laid off by the trustees, so that every part may bear its share of the burden of school taxation, and so that every child of school age may be a resident of some district, and thus have some school which he has a right to attend. If a board of trustees find that any territory within its juris- diction is not attached to any district, it should at once add such territory to some adjoining district or districts. 2. Legality of Organization tested. The legality of the or- ganization of a district can be questioned in a direct proceed- ing only. [People v. Trustees, 111 111., 171.] (b) 1. When Changes may he made. Changes in district boundaries may be made at the regular meeting in April only ; that is, the proposition for a change must be presented on or before that date ; but it may be carried over to an adjourned meeting. Should, however, the trustees fail to meet at the time of their regular meeting, it is held that they must meet (that a mandamus would lie to compel them to meet) and con- sider any such proposition that had been duly presented. 2. What Changes may he made. All the possible changes in the territory of a school district readily resolve themselves into four classes : (1) to divide a district so as to make two or more districts of it ; (2) to consolidate two or more districts ; (3) to make a district out of territory belonging to two or more dis- tricts, and (4) to detach territory from one district and add it to another. If any proposed change afl^ects a district or districts lying wholly in one township, then the proposition must be submitted to, and considered by, the trustees of that township ; but if the districts affected do not lie in one township, then the proposition must be submitted to, and be acted upon by, the board of trustees of each township into which the dis- tricts concerned, or any one of them, extends ; and in such case the two or more boards of trustees must concur in approv- ing the proposed change, in order that it be made by their action. 3. Concv.rrent Action. Concurrence of action does not imply a joint meeting; each board will act at its usual place of meet- 64 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. ing in its own township. Should, however, a joint meeting be held, there must be a quorum of each board present ; and the proposition would not prevail unless it should be approved by each board separately. 4. Districts wider Special Laivs. The pov/er here given to change district boundaries does not extend to districts organ ized under special acts of the general assembly. Shaefer v. People, 20 111. App. (20 Brad.), 605.] (c) 1. Purposes served by the Petition. In relation to changes of district boundaries, the petition serves two purposes : Jirst, it states what change is proposed ; and, second, it is essential that there be a petition in legal form and that it be duly filed, in order to give the trustees jurisdiction of the proposition. 2. Petition must not be changed. A clerical error in a peti- tion may be corrected, but no modification of the proposed change is admissible after the petition has been filed. The reason for this rule is obvious. Through the petition the trust- ees acquire jurisdiction of the proposition which it presents, and no power is given them to change it. When the petition is filed it has passed out of the control of the petitioners. If they are not satisfied with it, their only remedy is to put in another petition in the regular way which does represent their wishes, and secure the defeat of the one first filed. Further, it would be unfair to the districts interested to change a petition of whose pendency they have had notice, for something else of which they have not had notice. It is true that an amendment of a petition would sometimes make it more acceptable to all concerned, as well as clear it of objectionable features ; but such amendment cannot lawfully be made. 3. Forms of Petitions. The law provides for petitions in three forms: (1) By a majority of the legal voters of the district or districts affected. (2) By two-thirds of the legal voters living in certain territory which it is proposed to transfer to another district. (3) By two-thirds of the legal voters in certain terri- tory, containing not less than ten families, of which it is pro- posed to make a new district. It has been held that a peti- tion of this third form is not to be granted unless it be true that both the proposed new district and the old district, which is to be regarded as a new district, have each not less than ten families. [Chesshire v. People, 116 111., 493.] Sometimes one and sometimes another form of petition .may be used. For SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 65 instance, a majority of the legal voters of a district may peti- tion to have it divided along a certain line ; or the trustees may be asked to do the same thing by a petition signed by two-thirds of the legal voters living in one part of the district, requesting that that part be made a separate district, if only, as stated above, each part has not less than ten families living in it. A majority of the legal voters living in each of two or more districts, or two-thirds of the legal voters living in their whole territory may petition, in one case, for their consolidation, and, in the other, that the whole territory be made a district. A majority of the legal voters of two dis- tricts may petition to have a part of one district set off to another; or two-thirds of the legal voters living in the part which it is proposed to set off, may ask for the same thing ; and it is held that the petition of one voter, if he is the only voter living in such part, is sufficient in this case. 4. Petition must make a Case under the Laio. But which- ever form of petition is used, it must make a case under the statute, or it will not be the duty of the trustees to assume jurisdiction of the matter. \ Potter v. Trustees, 10 111. App. (10 Brad.), 343.] This decision was made under the statute when it did not read as it does now ; so while the rule laid down in the opinion must be followed, what a petition should now con- tain must be learned from the statute. Petitions should begin, "We, the undersigned being a major- ity of the legal voters of district ," or, "two-thirds of the legal voters in the territory herein described," or "two-thirds of the legal voters in the territory herein described, which con- tains ten or more families ;" and the prayer of the petition must be one which the trustees have power under the law to grant, and one which may be made under the form of petition chosen. If the proposed change must be submitted to two or more boards of trustees, then there must be two or more petitions, differing only in being addressed to different boards of trustees, and each signer must sign all the petitions. Care in respect to the signatures is desirable so as to shut out any question- ing of the copies served upon the interested districts. 5. Status of Petition fixed ivhen filed. The status of the petition is fixed when it is filed ; hence, from the number of persons who on that day are the legal voters of the territory or district petitioning, the petition must have a majority, or two- 66 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. thirds, accordiEg to form used, as signers. If a man moves out of the district after signing a petition, and before the peti- tion has been filed, his name must not be counted to make up the legal number of signers ; but if he moves out after the petition has been filed, his name must be counted ; for the trustees have already acquired the jurisdiction which it was one of the functions of the petition to give. And no change in the number of voters in the district or territory after the petition has been filed will withdraw jurisdiction. (d) Bonded Debt. If a change of district boundaries, affect- ing a district having a bonded debt, is made by reason of a petition of the first form above, presented by a majority of the legal voters of such district, then this provision of the law in reference to a bonded debt will not apply. [See also note (k) heloio,] {e) Vote instead of a Petition. This clause of the statute provides another way by which a change of district lines may be proposed on behalf of a district having not less than one thousand inhabitants. But the voters of such a district may still propose such a change by a petition, if that way is pre- ferred. It has been so held by one of the judges of Cook county. (/) Petition filed tiventy Days — Ten Days Notice to Districts. The law requires that the petition be filed twenty days prior to the April meeting of the trustees, and that districts affected have ten days notice of the same in order that due publicity may be given to the proposition. Compliance with these re- quirements may not be disregarded. [State v. Graham, 60 Wis., 395.] It is held that the copy of the petition which is filed with the president or clerk of an interested district must include the names of the signers, since they are an essential part of the petition. So, too, it is obligatory upon the petitioners to see that the copy of the petition is actually delivered to one of the officers named. The petitioners having delivered a copy to the proper person, should make to the township treasurer a return* of the delivery with name and date in writing, so that there may be evidence of that fact before the trustees when they meet ; but if this has not been done evidence of Form No. 15. SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 67 notice may be obtained by the trustees in -any other satisfac- tory way. (g) 1, Proceedings by Trustees. The first duty of a board of trustees, upon finding, at their meeting in April, that a petition has been filed for their consideration, is to ascertain whether on its face it makes a case under the law. {See note (c), above.) But the trustees may always investigate to ascertain whether a petition is what it purports to be ; that is, whether it really does ask for what the trustees may grant, and whether it in fact has the number of signatures it claims to have. If a petition does not upon its face come within the statute, or if the trustees find upon examination that it does not, then they must dismiss it as insufficient to give them jurisdiction. Having found that a petition does come within the statute, the trustees must next ascertain whether it has been filed twenty days, and whether all districts affected have had due notice of its pendency. '2. Adjournment. A defect here must be cured by an ad- journment. The petitioners have a right to a hearing, and to such a hearing as the law prescribes. If the trustees consider and act upon a petition before the time has come when they may lawfully act upon it, their action would be promptly set aside by any court before whom the matter might be brought, and the petitioners would thus, by the neglect of the trustees to follow the law, be deprived of their right. Should trustees neglect this requirement and act upon the petition too soon, it is held that they must call a special meet- ing, open up the case, and take steps essential to a legal con- sideration of the petition. If it should be found, after an adjournment, that the peti- tioners have still failed to give districts affected legal notice of the petition pending, the trustees must refuse it further con- sideration for lack of complete jurisdiction. 3. Mandamus to compel Consideration. A mandamus will lie to compel trustees to consider a petition which is properly before them. [Badger v. Knapp, 7 111. App. (7 Brad.), 222,] 4. Discretion of Trustees. A proposition for a change of district lines of which a board of trustees has acquired full jurisdiction, then comes up to be granted or refused without modification ; and the trustees have full discretion, both as to 68 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. the mode of consideration and as to their decision, being bound only to act in good faith. 5. Prima Facie Case. In the sentence of the law "After the trustees shall consider the petition no objections can be raised as to its form, and their action shall be prima facie evidence that all the foregoing provisions have been complied with," the word "form" is used as distinguished from "sub- stance;" and the sentence means that, after consideration by the trustees, objections on account of matters not essential to the validity of the petition may not be made, and that a pre- sumption that the trustees have acquired jurisdiction of the subject of the petition has been created, which may be over- come by sufficient evidence only. It does not prevent the county superintendent from considering all essential matters on ap- peal ; and a writ of certiorari will lie to review the proceedings in such a matter [Miller v. Trustees, 88 111., 26] ; but it must be brought within a reasonable time. [Trustees v. Directors, 88 111,, 100.] Acts clearly within the discretion of the trustees will not be disturbed. [Thompson v. Beaver, 63 111., 353; Direct- ors V. Trustees, 66 111., 247.] 6. Action by two or more Boards of Trustees. When any proposed change of district boundaries requires action by more than one board of trustees, the foregoing steps must be taken by each board. 7. Record. The record made of the action by the trustees should show every step taken and should be full and complete, so that their proceedings may be readily reviewed if it should ever be necessary to do so. 8. Remonstrance. A remonstrance against granting a peti- tion is often made, either orally or in writing, by the voters of a district interested. Sometimes the remonstrance is made by men who have signed the petition. A remonstrance has no legal standing before the trustees. It is simply an expression of their opinion upon the question at issue by certain inter- ested persons. It may, or may not, show good reasons why the petition should not be granted ; but it can, under no cir- cumstances, no matter by whom presented or signed, give the trustees power to refuse to consider a petition which has come before them in the way prescribed in the law. The fact that a man signs a remonstrance does not nullify his signature to the petition. SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 69 A trustee is not disqualified from acting upon a petition by being a resident of an interested district, or by having signed the petition. (h) 1. Who may appeal to County Siiperintendent. (In this note (/i), both paragraphs of the section relating to appeal have been considered ; one is on page 59, and the other on page 60.) Petitioners are entitled to appeal to the county superintendent of schools if their petition has been refused by the trustees. If it be before two or more boards, an appeal will lie if one board refuses. Those opposed to a petition can have the right to appeal when it has been granted, if they first oppose it before the trustees. If they fail to oppose before the trustees, they cannot appeal. Notice of appeal must be filed, in writing, with the township treasurer within ten days of action by the trustees. If two or more boards of trustees must act upon a petition, and all do not act the same day, the ten days will count from the date of action by the board acting last. 2. Appeal to tivo Superintendents. The amendment made at the last session of the general assembly to this section of the law, providing that an appeal may be heard by two county superintendents in certain cases, does not state very plainly the cases in which the appeal should be so heard; and the state superintendent, by authority given in section 8, makes the following rule : Whenever the district or districts affected by any proposed change of district boundaries do not lie wholly in one county, then the appeal may be taken to the county superintendent of any one of the counties in which any part of the district or of any one of the districts affected lies, and he shall give notice to the other superintendent or superin- tendents, and the appeal shall be heard and determined as the law directs. This rule carries out fully the spirit of the amend- ment made. 3. Transmittal of Papers. If any township treasurer fail to transmit within five days the papers in an appeal case to the county superintendent, such failure makes the clerk liable to the fine imposed later in the section [note {I)], but does not de- feat the appeal. The trustees, or the county superintendent, upon learning of such neglect, should order the papers sent forward. 3. Proceedings by Superintendent. The county superintendent, in considering the case upon appeal, should first ascertain 70 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. whether the appeal has been taken in the way the hiw pro- vides and by some person or persons having a right to appeal. If he finds that the appeal has not been properly taken, he must dismiss the appeal, and notify the township treasurer that the case stands as left by the trustees. If the county super- intendent finds that he has jurisdiction, he should next review the proceedings of the trustees, to ascertain whether they had jurisdiction, and whether they proceeded according to law. If he finds in the case any error that the trustees have power to remove, he can send the case back to the trustees, and direct them to hold a special meeting and take such action as may be necessary to free the record of the case from error. (Such an error would be hearing the case before twenty days after filing the petition.) But if he finds incurable errors in the case, he must refuse the petition, and so instruct the township treasurer. It is essential that the county superintendent take this course, in order that the whole transaction, which is statutory, may be in compliance with the law, and that the proceedings may be free from such errors as would compel setting them aside, if brought into court for review by a writ of certiorari, or called in question in quo ivarranto proceedings. Having found that the case is properly before him and that there is no error in the proceedings, he should then consider and decide the case upon its merits, having full discretion as to the mode of consideration and the decision. He should make a record of his proceedings and findings in the case, and send a copy of it to the township treasurer at once. 4. ''Final and Binding''' mean What. The law says that the decision of the county superintendent shall be "final and bind- ing." But this means only that his decision is final so far as the school law provides, and that school officers and all in- terested persons are required to obey it. It does not mean that the case may not be taken into court after action by the county superintendent. [Badger v. Knapp, 7 111. App. (7 Brad.), 222; State v. Graham, 60 Wis. 395.] (i) Voter in Certain Cases. See also the rule laid down in section 27, note {a), which would apply in case a voter had moved within ninety days prior to the election across a county line dividing his district, but not beyond the limits of his dis- trict. SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 71 (j) 1. Filing Map, etc. The requirements of the law with regard to time for filing map and calling an election are di- rectory ; and while a mandamus will lie to compel the treasurer to act, and his neglect of duty makes him liable to a fine [note {I), belotv], such neglect does not defeat the action already taken. [Directors v. Directors, 73 111., 249.] Decisions of the courts at variance with this were made upon a reading of the statute which, in exact words, made the filing of the map, etc., ivithin the time named essential to the validity of the action. The law does not so read now. [Potter v. Trustees, 10 111., App. (10 Brad.), 843.] 2. Organization of the Board. In stating how the new board shall organize, the law says the directors shall appoint "some suitable person clerk of the board." This, taken by itself, would certainly permit some one not a member of the board to be appointed clerk at this first organization of the board; but, by section 42, the board would have to make one of its members clerk the second year, and it is suggested that a member of the board should be appointed at this first meeting. 3. Election in Old District and Neiv. When two districts are formed, by division, out of one, each district, having dif- ferent territory and a different voting population from what it had before, is to be regarded as a new district, and should, therefore, elect a new board of directors, who should draw lots for their respective terms of office, as in case of an original organization. The same should be done, and for the same reasons, when a new district is formed by the consolidation of two or more districts. If two districts are consolidated by the trustees, and the number and designation of one of the dis- tricts is retained as the number and designation of the new district, a new board of directors should, nevertheless, be elected. The voting population being changed by the consoli- dation, the question of who shall be directors of the new dis- trict should, of right, be referred back to the people. [Ches- shire v. People, 116 111., 493.] (k) 1. Division of Funds. No division of funds or property is to be made by the trustees unless a new district is formed. If a portion of territory is cut off from one district and at- tached to another, thereby changing the boundaries, without establishing a new district, no division of funds or property is required. When a new district is formed, all funds on hand 72 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. must be distributed at the time such new district is formed, and all funds due, but not yet paid in, must be divided as soon as received, except in case of debts, etc., as hereafter noted ; and the distribution in both cases must be made in proportion to the amount of taxes collected from the property remaining in each district. When a new district is formed,, the school property, such as houses, sites, etc., must be ap- praised, and the value thereof apportioned among the several districts in the same proportion as the funds. The law re- quires a prompt division of funds and apportionment of the value of school property. The appraisal and apportionment of the value of school property should be made at the time the new district is formed, and it must be made within three months. For refusal to make the appraisal and distribution required by law, the trustees are liable. When a new district is formed by consolidation of two or more districts, the new district so formed owns all the corporate funds and property of the constitaent districts. Where a school-house belongs to a district, but not the site on which it stands, the appraised value of said house must be apportioned as above. The fact that the district does not own the site, does not release it from the obligation to divide the value of the house which it does own, and which both districts helped to build. 2. Pending Contracts must he respected. Trustees may change the boundaries of districts at the regular meeting in April, but regard should always be had to the rights of parties under contracts previously made. In cases v/here schools are in pro- gress in districts affected by the action of the trustees, such action should, when practicable, be made to take effect after the close of such schools. But if a district is actually abol- ished, by attaching its territory to another district or districts, during a term of school, the directors of the district or districts receiving the territory and property of the district so abolished or broken up, must be made liable to the teacher for the full amount of his wages under his contract with the directors of the abolished district, or the board of directors who employed him must continue responsible for his wages. The same prin- ciple applies where a district is divided and a portion set off to another district, one or more of the directors being residents of the portion set off. The persons elected to fill the vacancies are bound to respect the contract of the teacher, the same as SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 73 the original directors. So, also, when a new district is formed out of an old one having funds on hand, but specifically set apart to the payment of a teacher then engaged in teaching, the funds so set apart should not be divided, but applied to said specific purpose. The provisions of the law in this re- spect should be understood as applying only to funds not already specifically appropriated. [Rogers v. People, 68 111., 154.] 3. Division of Funds illustrated. In the division of funds, two classes of cases are involved, and only two : First, when two districts are made out of one ; Second, when the territory of the new district is taken from that of two or more districts. The application of the rule, in each case, is as follows : (1.) Suppose district A. is divided into two districts, B. and C, and that at the time of the division A. had on hand, or due and receivable, $300.00. Suppose, further, that the amount of taxes last collected from A. was $700.00, of which the prop- erty in B. paid $400.00, and the property in C. $300.00. Under the rule of the law, district B. is entitled to four-sevenths of the $300.00, or $171.43 ; and district C. is entitled to three- sevenths of the said $300.00, or $128.57. (2.) Again : Let a new district, D., be formed from parts of two old. districts, E. and F. ; and, at the time the new district is made, let E. have on hand $400.00, and F. $300.00. Let the amount of taxes last collected from E. be $1,500.00, of which sum $600.00 came from the property in that part of D. that was taken from E. Let the amount of taxes last collected from F. be $1,000.00, of which $300.00 came from that part of D. that was taken from F. Applying the satne rule of the law, D. is entitled to two-fifths of E.'s $400.00, or $160.00, and to three-tenths of F.'s $300.00, or $90.00— making $250.00 in all. Hence, on final adjustment, each district's share of the funds on hand will be D., $250.00, E., $240.00, and F., $210.00. These illustrations show the manner of solution of every case that can arise. 4. Division of Other Property — Appraisal. The valuation put upon property by the appraisers must be accepted as final; but if their action is tainted with fraud, or if too much or too little property was included in the valuation, the trustees may order a new appraisal. Of this estimated cash value, each dis- trict concerned is to have a certain share. The share in the property that each district shall have is to be found and de- -5 74 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. termined by the same rule that applies to the division of fundSy. that is, in proportion to the amount of school taxes last col- lected from the respective districts. To illustrate : District A. is divided, making districts B. and C. The house falls in district B. The estimated cash value of the house is $1,000. The taxes last collected from the property in B. amounted to $2,500.00; those last collected from the property in C. amounted to $1,500.00. District B. is there- fore entitled -to five-eights of the $1,000.00, or $625.00, and district C. to three-eights, or $375.00. But how is district C. to get its $375.00? Thus: The trust- ees are to order the treasurer to place that amount to the credit of district C. out of the funds in his hands belonging to district B., if the amount in his hands, as aforesaid, is suffi- cient for that purpose. If there are no funds in the treasurer's hands belonging to district B., or not enough to pay what is due to district C, then the treasurer is to place said amount, or the balance thereof, as the case may be, to the credit of C. out of the funds "subsequently to accrue" to district B. The debt, or the balance thereof, is to be paid from the first funds belonging to B, coming into the treasurer's hands, whether they be state, county, township or district funds. Knowing its liability, and the amount thereof, district B. must provide therefor, or for any unpaid portion thereof, by a special dis- trict tax, or by including the amount in its annual tax for current expenses. It is the intention of the law to complete and conclude such transactions as soon as possible. Hence, the judgment of the appraisers is final, and the payment of the sum due the district not retaining the property, is there- after in the hands of the trustees and treasurer exclusively, who must cause settlement to be made as aforesaid. For failure to divide funds and property as enjoined by this sec- tion, trustees are heavily liable, both individually and jointly. Districts which have heretofore failed to obtain their just share of the value of school property, are also entitled to redress under the provisions of this section. 5. Debts deducted. The bona fide debts of the old districts must be deducted, before the funds and property are divided between the two districts. If, for instance, a district has on hand $100.00, and school property valued at $1,000.00, but is indebted to teachers, or otherwise, to the amount of $300.00,, SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 75 and under these circumstances a portion of its territory is cut off and erected into a new district, the $100.00 on hand, and $200.00 of the value of property, must be deducted and set apart for the payment of said debt of the old district, incurred before the division, and the remainder only of the value of the property ($800.00) divided between the two districts, in the manner prescribed by law. The equity of this provision is too plain for remark. 6. Liability of one District to Another enforced. The liability of one district to another for a failure to pay the amount due on a division of property may be enforced by a suit in equity. [Directors v. Directors, 73 111., 249 ; Directors v. Directors, 16 111. App. (16 Brad.), 651.] 7. Bonded Debt. If, however, in accordance with the third paragraph of this section, the territory of the original district is to continue liable for the bonded debt, the amount of such debt must not be deducted from the valuation of the property; for to deduct it would give one part of the district the prop- erty for the difference between the valuation and the debt, and yet relieve it from a part of the debt ; while the other part would be credited with its share of the property less the debt, and still be held for a part of the debt. 8. Districts may not ivaive their Rights. A new district may not agree with an old one from which a part or a whole of its territory is taken, for a disposition of property different from that provided by law. [People v. Hodge, 4 Neb. 265 ; State V. Kidd, 63 Wis., 337.] 9. District dissolved by adding Part to one, and Part to another, District. One case the law does not provide for: If a district (not a union district, petitioning under the last paragraph of the section) is dissolved by adding a part of it to one district and the rest to another, the law does not say what the trustees shall do with its funds and property, if anything is left after paying its debts. The law being silent, ail that can be said is that the realty would belong to the district to which it falls by the action of the trustees ; and that the trustees could make such disposition of the funds between the two districts as they deem fair. 10. All Adjustment of Funds made by Trustees and Treasurer. All adjustments of district funds made necessary by this section may be made by the treasurer under the direction of the trustees. 76 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 11. Neiv District to receive Funds in October. A new district will be entitled, the same as an old one, to its share of the funds distributed by the trustees in October and April next after its organization. (l) District ivhich has had no School for two Years. Whenever it is brought to the knowledge of the trustees of a school township that any school district within their jurisdiction has failed for two consecutive school years (for this purpose the year ends June 30; See Sec. 34), to maintain a legal school, they should at once proceed to attach its territory to one or more adjoin- ing districts. In the case of a union district, the fact of de- linquency should be established by the concurrent action of the two or more boards of trustees ; but each board will by itself dispose of the territory in its township, unless it is proposed to add it to some district lying in whole or in part in another township, in which case concurrent action with the board of trustees of such other township is essential. Under this provision of the law the trustees take action with- out any petition ; and a petition, if presented, has no legal standing — it merely expresses the opinion of the petitioners. (m) Union District dissolved. Whether the petition required loy this paragraph is sufficient or not is a question to be deter- mined by the concurrent action of the trustees of the two or more townships in which the union district lies. The petition must be signed by a majority of the legal voters of the whole district; it does not require the signature of a majority of the legal voters of each part. The petition being found sufficient, the union district is thereby dissolved, and each board of trustees proceeds thereupon to make such disposition as it deems best of so much of the territory of the dissolved dis- trict as lies in its township, not being bound in relation thereto by any petition or petitions received asking for a particular disposition of the territory or any part thereof. The trustees must dispose of the whole territory, and must do this in such a way as will in their judgment best suit the wishes and con- venience of the majority of the people interested. 34. Apportionment of funds — Forfeiture by district. § 34. At the regular semi-annual meetings on the first Mon- days of April and October, the trustees shall ascertain the amount of state, county and township funds on hand and sub- ject to distribution, and shall apportion the same as follows : (a) SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 77 First. — Whatever may be due for the compensation and the books of the treasurer, and such sum as may be deemed reasonable for dividing school lands, making plats, etc. (b) Second. — The remainder shall be divided among the districts or fractions of districts, in which schools have been kept in accordance with the provisions of this act, and the instruc- tions of the state and county superintendents, during the pre- ceding year ending June 30, in proportion to the number of children under twenty-one (21) years of age in each : Provided, that no district which shall show by schedules filed on or before the meeting of the trustees in October, 1881, that it has had a legal school for one hundred and ten (110) days during the year preceding, shall be deprived of a share of the funds distributed at that and the next regular meeting of the trustee's. The funds thus apportioned shall be placed on the books of the treasurer to the credit of the respective districts, and the same shall be paid out by the treasurer on the legal orders of the directors of the proper districts, (c) [May 31 — July 1, 1881.J (a) 1. Distribution of Funds — Days of. The duty of distribut- ing funds, together with that of hearing petitions, makes the regular meeting in April one of great importance. It should be held without fail upon the day named ; but if trustees fail to meet that day, they must not let the distribution of funds go over till the October meeting; a special meeting must be called at once and the distribution made. 2. Additions to Township Fund — Distributable Fund not to be loaned. As to power to add a part of the distributable funds to the township fund, see Sec. 62 ; but no part of the distribu- table fund, as such, may be loaned.^ (b) . Treasurer's Salary — Expenses. The treasurer's salary and all the incidental expenses of the office come oat of the distributable fund. The trustees are allowed some compensa- tion for dividing school lands, making plats, and for other services connected with the sale. But they do not receive any compensation for the performance of other duties, unless the, exemptions named in Sec. 72 be regarded as a compensation. (c) 1. Condition of sharing Funds. The condition of sharing in the funds distributed by the trustees in October and April is that the district has had, for the year ending June 30th prior thereto, a legal school. Of this fact the schedules; filed are the evidence in part. Among the provisions of law in accordance with which schools must be kept, in order that they may be legal schools within the meaning of the statute, are the following : 78 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. (1) The children of the district must be accommodated, to a reasonable extent at least, with school privileges. [§ 48.1 (2) The schools must be in session at least one hundred and ten days in each year. [§ 48.] (3) The teachers must have legal certificates in force for the whole term taught. [§§ 50, 52.] (4) The schools must be for the purpose of instruction in the branches prescribed and permitted by law, and in no others. [§ 50.j (5) The schools must not be sectarian in their character. C§. 77.] 2. Forfeiture. If it is within the knowledge of the trustees that in any district these provisions of the law have not been complied with, then the trustees must exclude such district from the distribution, and the whole amount on hand for dis- tribution must be given to the other districts. But a district just organized must not be excluded. 3. Basis of Distribution. The basis of distribution is the minor population. [See note {a), § 16.] 4. Funds credited to Districts. As soon as the distribution has been made, the treasurer should enter up to their credit the amounts apportioned to the several districts, and thereafter hold them subject to directors' orders only. 5. Overpayment of a District. In case a township treasurer overpays a district, through inadvertence or otherwise, and the fact of such overpayment is apparent from the records, said treasurer, or his successor, may retain the amount so overpaid from the first funds due, or to become due, said district, and apportion the same to the other districts of the township, to which it of right belongs, making the proper entry in his books. 6. Funds of Toumships lying in tivo Counties. When a town- ship lies partly in two or more counties, and the treasurer re- ceives public money from the superintendent of each county, the funds so received should be merged and treated as one com- mon fund. It is clear from the thirty-fourth section of this act that in the distribution of the state, county and township funds, every township is to be taken as a unit, and the distri- bution must be made to all the districts which have had schools according to law, without regard to county lines. Trustees cannot cause the portion of the county fund received from each superintendent to be expended exclusively in that part of the SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 79 "township which lies in the county of that superintendent, but must make one common fund of the amount so received, and distribute as aforesaid. The apportionment being made under one uniform state law, the accidents of county lines are not "to be taken into the account. 36. Transfer of pupils. § 35. Pupils shall not be trans- ferred from one district to another without the written consent of a majority of the directors of both districts, which written permits* shall be delivered to and filed by the proper township treasurer, and shall be evidence of such consent. A separate schedule shall be kept for each district, and in each schedule shall be certified the proper amount due the teacher from that district, computed upon the basis of the total number of days' attendance of all the schedules. If the district from which "the pupils are transferred is in the same township as the dis- trict in which the school is taught, the directors of said district shall deliver the separate schedule[s] to their township treas- urer, who shall credit the district in which the school was taught, and charge the other districts with the respective amounts certified in said separate schedules to be due. If pupils are transferred from a district of another township, the sched- ule for that district shall be delivered to the directors thereof, who shall immediately draw an order on their treasurer, in favor of the treasurer of the township in which the school was taught for the amount certified to be due in said separate schedule. When a school is composed in part of pupils trans- ferred from other townships, the duty of collecting the amount due on account of such pupils shall devolve upon the direct- ors, (ft) To"wnship high school established, discontinued. Upon petition of fifty voters of any school township, filed with the township treasurer at least fifteen days preceding a regular election of trustees, it shall be the duty of said treasurer to notify the voters of the township that an election "For" and "Against" a high school will be held at the next ensuing elec- tion of trustees, and the ballots to such effect shall be received and canvassed at such election ; and if a majority of the votes at such election shall be found to be in favor of a high school, it shall be the duty of the trustees of the township to establish, at some central point most convenient for the majority of the pupils of the township, a high school, for the education of the more advanced pupils. For the purpose of building a school house, supporting the school, and other necessary expenses, the township shall be regarded as a school district, and the trustees shall have the power, and discharge the duties of direct- ors for such district in all respects : Provided, that in like manner, the voters and trustees of two or more adjoining * Form No. 18. 80 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. townships, or parts of townships, may cooperate in the estab- lishment and maintenance of a high school, on such terms as they may by written agreement, made by the boards of trust- ees, enter into. And provided, further, that when any town- ship, or parts of townships, shall have organized a high school and wish to discontinue the same, upon petition of fifty voters- of said township, or parts of townships, filed with the town- ship treasurer at least fifteen (15) days preceding a regular election of trustees, it shall be the duty of said treasurer to notify the voters of the township that an election will be held to discontinue the high school at the next ensuing election of trustees, and the ballots cast "For" or "Against" the contin- uance of the high school shall be received and canvassed at such election ; and if a majority of the votes at such election shall be found against continuing the high school, it shall be the duty of the trustees to discontinue the same, and to turn all the assets of the high school over to the school fund of said township, to be used as any other township fund for school purposes, (h) [March 24— July 1, 1874 ; June 3— July 1, 1879.] (a) 1. Transfers — Continuance of. The best course of pro- cedure with reference to permits is that the pupil desiring one, or his parent or guardian for him, first ask the board of directors of the district in which he lives to grant it. This is official business and should be considered only at a meeting of the board, and a record should be kept of the action of the board upon the request. If granted, the time for which the permit is given should be stated in it. The rule laid down by the supreme court in the decision with regard to the term for which directors may employ teachers [Stevenson v. Directors, 87 111., 255], applies also with equal force to permits. Except in cases requiring it, the board of directors should make no contracts and grant no permits that will hamper the action of their successors in the office. No permits should be granted before the April election for a term to begin after the election ; but in case they are given for a term beginning before the election and continuing after it, they may be drawn to con- tinue in force for the whole term. The permit should then be presented to the board of directors of the district in which the pupil wishes to attend school ; and, if approved by them, it may be so endorsed. The pupil should then take his permit to the teacher of the school, who should enter upon the school register his name, the title of the district to which he belongs, the number of SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 81 months of school for which the permit holds good, and the date of its expiration, and return the permit to his directors. 2. Separate Schedules. The law requires teachers of schools containing transferred pupils to make out separate schedules for them. It will be found best to make out these schedules at the same time that the regular schedules for the district are made out. In fact, a strict construction of section fifty- two of the school law would prevent a teacher from claiming his pay for any month until such schedules have been made out and delivered to the directors of his district. If the pupils are transferred from a district in the same township, the directors have only to certify the separate schedule and deliver it to the township treasurer, whose duty it becomes upon re- ceiving the schedule, and not before, to charge to one district, and to credit to the other, the amount which the schedule shows to be due. But if the pupils come from another town- ship, then the directors must take the schedule to the other board of directors, who should, upon finding it correct, approve it, and then, and not before, draw an order upon their treasurer in favor of the treasurer of the other district. It is the duty of the directors receiving the order to attend to its collection. Should they receive the money thereon personally, they must at once pay it over to their treasurer; for he is, by section forty of the school law, the only lawful depositary and custo- dian of all district school funds. 3. When Transfers should be made. Such transfers should be made whenever the interests of particular pupils can be served thereby without serious loss to either district concerned ; and when asked for good and sufficient reasons, they should not be refused on narrow and illiberal grounds. 4. Duty of Teacher. The teacher should ascertain the resi- dence of pupils and refer to the directors all pupils from out- side the district not already admitted by the board, in order that the board may settle all questions regarding their .admis- sion ; for these must be determined by the board, not by the teacher. (b) 1. Township High School — Establishment — Maintenance. When the people of any township vote to establish a township high school, the trustees, without a further vote, must proceed to establish and maintain the school, both selecting a site and levying a tax for a school house. For this purpose the town- 82 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. ship becomes, in effect, a school district, of which the trustees are the school board, with all the powers and duties of school directors. They may levy taxes [Fisher v. People, 84 111., 491 ; Richards v. Raymond, 92 111., 612] ; fix a course of study, de- termine the qualifications for admission [Trustees v. People, 87 111., 303] ; employ teachers, etc. For a further discussion of these duties, see comments upon the sections relating to school directors. 2. Supported by Taxation — Schedtdes. The township high school is supported by taxation alone ; it does not receive any funds from distribution. The teachers should keep registers and make out schedules. All payments should be by orders, and the accounts of the school should be kept the same as if it were in a separate district. In making the report, however, only those items relating to it as a school should be reported. 3. Discontinuance. If a township high school be discontin- ued, its funds should be added to the distributable fund and apportioned to the several districts. It seems right to make this use of them rather than to add them to the principal of the township fund, for they have been raised for current school expenses. 36. Statistical report to county superintendent. § 36. The board of trustees of each township in this state shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, by the township treasurer, the clerk of the board, the directors of the several districts, or other person, and forwarded to the county superintendent of the county in which the township lies, on or before the fif- teenth day of July, preceding each regular session of the gen- eral assembly of this state, and at such other times as may be required by the county superintendent, or by the state superintendent of public instruction, a statement exhibiting the condition of schools in their respective townships for the pre- ceding biennial period, giving separately each year, commenc- ing on the first of July, and ending on the last of June ; which statement shall be as follows : First. — The whole number of schools which have been taught in each year ; what part of said number have been taught by males exclusively ; what part have been taught by females ex- clusively ; what part of said whole number have been taught by males and females at the same time, and what part by males and females at different periods. Second. — The whole number of scholars in attendance at all the schools, giving the number of males and females separately. Third. — The number of male and female teachers, giving each separately ; the highest, lowest and average monthly compen- SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 83 sation paid to the male and female teachers, giving each item separately. Fourth. — The number of persons under twenty- one years of age, making a separate enumeration of those above the age of twelve years who are unable to read and write, and the cause or causes of the neglect to educate them. Fifth. — The amount of the principal of the township fund ; the amount of the interest on the township fund paid into the township treasury ; the amount raised by ad valorem tax, and the amount of such tax received into the township treasury, and the amount of all other funds received into the township treasury. Sixth. — Amount paid for teachers' wages ; the amount paid for school house lots ; the amount paid for building, repairing, purchasing, renting ar:d furnishing school houses ; the amount paid for school apparatus, for books and other incidental ex- penses for the use of school libraries ; the amount paid as compensation to township officers and others. Seventh. — The whole amount of the receipts and expenditures for school purposes, together with such other statistics and in- formation in regard to schools as the state superintendent or county superintendent may require, (a) Forfeiture of funds. And any township from which such report is not received in the manner and time required by law, shall forfeit its portion of the public fund for the next ensu- ing year : Provided, that upon the recommendation of the county superintendent, or for good and sufficient reasons, the state superintendent may remit such forfeiture, (b) [June 3 — July 1, 1879.J (a) 1. Trustees to make Rejjoi'ts — Fenalties and Liabilities. The obligation to make this report annually, on or before July fifteenth, is put upon the trustees. They do not discharge their duty by directing the treasurer to make it. If the county superintendent has to send some one to make the report, the trustees are liable for the expense. [§ 21.] They are also liable, under section seventy-six, to a fine of twenty-five dol- lars.; and if the forfeiture, provided as a penalty below, should be enforced, the trustees would be liable for. the loss the town- ship would sustain. [§ 77.] Making false returns knowingly is punishable by the heavy fine of one hundred dollars, accord- ing to the first part of section seventy-six, and it behooves the trustees to know that the report sent in in their name is accu- rate. 2. Not excused by Negligence of Directors. Trustees may not excuse themselves for not making a report by saying that •directors have failed to report to them. The trustees must 84 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. themselves get all the information called for, or have their clerk get it. 3, Value of Reports. For the value and necessity of accu- rate reports, see section 17, note (a). (b). Forfeiture by Township. Blanks needed and full direc- tions for making this report are furnished trustees some days in advance of the time for making the report, so it would seem that there can be no occasion to enforce this penalty, except in cases of refusal or willful neglect on the part of the trustees. A forfeiture was sustained in Pace v. People, 47 111. 321. 37. Same "when to-wnship lies in two or more coun- ties. § 37. In all cases where a township is or shall be divided by a county line or lines, the board of trustees of such township shall make or cause to be made separate enumera- tions of male and female persons of the ages as directed in the foregoing section of this act, designating separately the number residing in each of the counties in which such town- ship may lie, and forward each respective number to the proper county superintendent of each of said counties ; and in like manner, as far as practicable, all other statistics and in- formation enumerated and required to be reported in the afore- said section, shall be separately reported to the several county superintendents ; and all such parts of said statistical informa- tion as are not susceptible of division, and are impracticable to be reported separately, shall be reported to the county superintendent of the county in which the sixteenth section of such township is situated, (a) {a) Directions Relating to Reports. The blanks for the annual reports, as sent out by the state superintendent, contain such full directions concerning reports from union districts and dis- tricts and townships divided by county lines, that it is not thought necessary to consider here the many questions which come up in connection therewith. 38. Trustees to examine treasurers' accounts. § 38. At each semi-annual meeting, and at such other meetings as they may think proper, the said township board shall examine all books, notes, mortgages, securities, papers, moneys and effects of the corporation, and the accounts and vouchers of the township treasurer, or other township school officer, and shall make such order thereon for their security, preservation, collection, correction of errors, if any, and for their proper management, as may seem to said board necessary. 39. Title of school property— Control of school premises — School house may be used for meetings — Sale of. § 39. The board of trustees in each township in SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 85 the state may receive any gift, grant, donation or devise made for th» use of any school or schools, or library, or other school purposes within their jurisdiction ; and they shall be and are hereby invested, in their corporate capacity, with the title, care and custody of all school houses and school house sites ; (a) but the supervision and control of them is expressly vested in the directors of each district in which said property is situated, who may grant the temporary use of school houses, when not occupied by schools, for religious meetings and Sunday schools, for evening schools and for literary societies, and for such other meetings as the directors may deem proper; (h) and when, in the opmion of the school directors, the school house site or the buildings have become unnecessary, or unsuitable, or incon- venient for a school, said board of trustees, on petition of a majority of the voters of the district, shall sell and convey the same in the name of the said board, after giving at least twenty days' notice of such sale, by posting up written or printed no- tices thereof, particularly describing said property and terms of sale ; and such conveyance shall be executed by the president and clerk of said board, and the avails shall be paid over to the township treasurer for the benefit of said district ; and all conveyances of real estate which may be made to said board, shall be made to said board in their corporate name, and to their successors in office, (c) (a) 1. Title to School Property in Trustees. The title of school houses and school sites vests in the board of school trustees, and is held by them in trust for the particular dis- tricts to which they belong. When a board of directors buys a school site pursuant to a vote of the district, it must take the title in the trustees ; but the trustees have nothing to do with the purchase. The board should have the deed recorded, and file it with the township treasurer, A suit to compel the giving of a deed must be brought by the trustees, or in their name. Directors may not bring such a suit in their own name. [Wilson V. Directors, 81 111., 180.] 2. District should own School Site. A school house should never be erected upon land not owned by the district, except in case of absolute necessity. The law does not forbid the building of a school house upon leased ground, or where the district does not possess the fee, but it is a bad practice, and almost sure to result in trouble and loss to the district, sooner or later. No site should be voted for until it is ascertained whether a clear warranty deed can be obtained or not. If a site is voted for, and it is afterwards found that a clear title can not be obtained, it is better to select another site. It is 86 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. impolitic to build and expend the money of the district upon lots in which the district has only a conditional esbnte, as where the lots, by the terms of the deed, revert to the former owner when they cease to be used for school purposes, etc. Where the ground upon which existing school hoases stand, is- in that condition, the directors should secure quit-claims, if possible, from the makers of the deeds, so as to pass the titles which they might acquire by reversion. The property may become very valuable, and the directors may wish to change the site of the school house, in which case the land should be held by such a tenure that the district could sell and have the benefit of the proceeds for the new house and site. To- secure a clear title, in fee simple, is always the best policy. 3. No Highway to School House. A school house is for the use of the public, and if there is no public highway to it, the school children may go across private property in going to and from school. [Wilson v. Garrard, 59 111., 51.] 4. Dedication of School Site. A dedication of land for school purposes may be implied from use for such purposes ; and long continued use will give the right to the trustees to hold the land as if the dedication had been by deed. [David- son V. Reed, 111 111., 167; Wilson v. Directors, 81 111., 180.] Dedication of land for a school site is a dedication for a charitable purpose ; and if a deed made to confirm such dedi- cation is defective, a court of equity will supply all defects of conveyance. [Price v. Directors, 58 111., 452.] 5. Lot does not revert. A lot conveyed for school purposes does not revert when no longer used as a school site. It may be leased and the proceeds used to support a school main- tained upon another site. [Trustees v. Braner, 71 111., 546; Crane v. Hyde Park, 135 Mass., 147.] 6. Oj^al Consent by Oivner — Personal Property. If an owner of land in a school district give oral consent to the erection of a public school house thereon by the district, it will be considered the personal property of the district. [District Township of Corwin v. Morehead, 43 la., 466.] 7. School House exempt from Taxation. The public school house is exempt from taxation. [Sec. 2, Chap. 120, Rev. Stat., III., Pace V. ComWs, 20 III., 644; Constitution, Art. 9, Sec. 3, etc., p. 11.] SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 87 8. Exempt from Mechanic's Lien. School property is not liable to a mechanic's lien. [Quinn v, Allen, 85 111,, 39,] {h) 1. School Directors may sue for Trespass. School directors being vested with the control and supervision of the school house may, when in actual occupancy of a school house for school purposes, maintain an action for trespass against any unauthorized person for breaking into and entering the same. [Alderman v. Directors, 91 111., 179.] 2. Burning a School House. "Every person who shall willfully and maliciously burn or cause to be burned any * * * * * * school house * * * * * * shall be deemed guilty of arson, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished, etc., and should the life of any person be lost in consequence of any such burning, such offender shall be deemed guilty of murder, and punished accordingly." [Rev. Stat. III.,. Crim. Code, § 18.] 3. Entering with Evil Intent. "Whoever willfully and maliciously and forcibly breaks and enters, or willfully and maliciously, without force (the doors or windows being open), enters into any ****** school house * * * * with intent to commit murder, robbery, etc., shall be deemed guilty of burglary, and be imprisoned, etc.," [Rev. Stat. III., Crim. Code, § 36.] 4. Disturbing a School. "Whoever willfully interrupts or disturbs any school * * * shall be fined, etc." [Rev. Stat, III., Crim. Code, § 60.] 5. Defacing a School House. "Whoever willfully and ma- liciously, or wantonly and without cause, destroys, defaces, mars or injures any school house, * * * or any of the out-buildings, fences, wells or appurtenances of such school house, * * * shall be fined, etc." [Rev. Stat. III., Crim. Code, § 196.] 6. Doors of School House to open outwards. Chapter 111, Eev. Stat. 111., provides that all school houses erected since July 1, 1874, shall be so constructed that all doors leading from the main hall, or from the principal room, shall be so swung upon their hinges as to open outwards ; and that all means of egress from the building shall be by means of doors which shall open outwards. Section 2 further provides that any person or persons failing to comply with the above pro- 88 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. visions shall be fined in any sum not less than $100 nor more than $1,000. 7. Insurance. School directors should see that their school buildings are protected, by adequate policies of insurance, against loss or damage by fire, etc., and that the policies are regularly and promptly renewed at expiration. Their right and duty to do this are unquestionable. It is a precaution which should never be omitted. The premium should be con- sidered as a necessary incidental expense, and regularly pro- vided for as such, under section forty-three. No vote of the district is required. The insurance should be written in the name of the trustees, since the title is in them. It should not be written in a company of which a member of the school board is the agent. [Directors v. Parks, 85 111., 338. J 8. Care and Custody of School House and Grounds by Direct- ors, includes What. The guardianship and control of school houses, and of the school property of a district, are vested ex- clusively in the board of directors, and not in the teacher nor the inhabitants of the district; but they are vested in them only for the purposes contemplated by law. To this end they should cause the house to be painted, and trees, shrubbery and flowers to be planted, etc. Not a year should be allowed to pass without planting trees, where there are none already. Ample shade is necessary for health, comfort and sightliness, and can always be had at a trifling cost. The soft maple, box-elder, elm, etc., will yield a plentiful shade in three years, and no school house lot should ever be longer than that with- out the luxury. Among the most repulsive and needless sights in the state is that of a school house sweltering in the sun, choked with dust, bleak, naked and desolate — without a tree, shrub, or flower, or any other object to please the eye and relieve the monotonous deformity of the place. There is no apology or excuse for this in any case whatever. The planting and boxing of trees should always be attended to at the earliest possible moment, and nature will do the rest. Fences, gates, wells, out-houses, etc., should be kept in good condition, and both teachers and pupils held to strict account in respect to them. It is impossible to depict the pernicious effect of dis- regarding the claims of delicacy and purity in the location, construction and arrangement of the private retreats provided for the pupils of the two sexes. The case of providing none SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS, 89 at all is too gross for comment. Directors also have full authority to purchase brooms, dust-brushes, pails, wash-bowls, shovels, tongs, ash-buckets, scrapers, mats, clothing-hooks, etc., etc. The power of the directors to procure all these things, and any others that may be required for the complete equipment and furnishing of their schools, school houses and grounds, is clear and unquestionable. And' to pay for them they may levy any rate of tax that may be necessary ; no vote is required. It is also the duty of the directors to employ some one to sweep, make fires, prepare the fuel, etc., unless a different agreement is made with the teacher, or the pupils voluntarily attend to those things. 9. Teacher not to do Janitor Work. Unless otherwise speci- :fied in the contract no teacher of a public school can be re- quired to sweep, make fires, etc. It is no part of his duty, unless he agrees and contracts to do it when he is employed. These are services which have no connection whatever with his personal duties as teacher, and which he cannot, there- fore, be required to perform under a general contract to teach the school. Whatever services and duties properly attach to the office of teacher, in addition to the great work of instruct- ing and governing the school, such as preserving the house and its furniture, the fences, grounds, trees, shrubbery, etc., from injury by the pupils, may legally be required of him. But making fires, sweeping, sawing wood, etc., do not belong to this category. A teacher is under no more legal obligation, as a teacher, to saw and split the wood for the school stoves, than he is to bring it from the forest to the school house. Nor is he under any more obligation to cause it to be done, or to see that it is done, unless he agrees to do so ; and of course he is not liable for any expenses attending the perform- ance of such services. 10. Pupils not to do Janitor Work. Neither may such ser- vices be required of pupils against their will. [State v. Board of Education of Fond du Lac, 63 Wis., 234.] Whatever expense attends such services comes under the head of "necessary incidental expenses," and may be provided for by the directors, without a vote, under the forty-third sec- tion of this act. 11. Liability of District for Injury to Pupils. The district is not liable for injury resulting to pupils, either from the de- —6 90 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. fective construction or condition of the school house, or for a dangerous condition of the school yard. [Lane v. District Township of Woodbury, 58 la., 462 ; Finch v. Board of Educa- tion, 30 Ohio St., 37; Bigelow v. Randolph, 14 Gray, 541.] It has been held otherwise in New York. In deciding Bassett V. Fish, 75 N. Y. App., 303, Judge Folger said : "If, in the proper discharge of their duty, they had gone to the building, and, looking for defects threatening immediate danger, had found this hole, then they would have had actual and personal knowledge of it, and would have been in fault, if having pub- lic means to do it they had not amended it. If so going they had made so careless an inspection as not to see what was so plain, then they would have been faulty. If they did not go at all and took no heed of the liability to danger from the general and particular defects of a building in their charge, which they kept open for the use of many people, then they egregiously failed in doing their duty." 12. Temporary Use of School House for Meetings. Directors are authorized to "grant the temporary use of school houses, when not occupied by schools, for religious meetings and Sun- day schools, for evening schools and for literary societies, and for such other meetings as the directors may deem proper." Directors are clothed will full powers in the premises, and may exercise those powers at their discretion. 13. Liability of Directors. In the exercise of the authority so explicitly conferred, they are liable only for manifest abuse of the trusts committed to them ; in no other case can they be called to account for what they may see fit to do, or refuse to do, in the premises. Their decision and action are final, unless judicially inquired into, for good cause shown. The power conferred is, however, to be strictly cosntrued as to col- lateral matters. The buildings, grounds and appurtenances are to be safe from defacement and injury ; the books and utensils of the pupils are not to be meddled with ; the fuel and lights belonging to the district are not to be used by tem- porary occupants without express leave and full compensation ; the rooms used are to be left in as good and orderly a con- dition as when occupied ; for all losses and injuries inflicted or caused by such occupancy, to the school buildings and other property of the district, or to the books and other property of the scholars, the directors will be individually and jointly liable^ SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 91 They should, therefore, grant the use of the school house for such purposes to such persons only as are financially respon- sible and will agree specifically, in advance, to hold themselve& personally liable for any and all waste and damage to prop- erty and premises. 14. Not to he granted tvhen School House is occupied hy School.. Such use can only be granted when the buildings are "not oc- cupied by schools;" that is, on Saturdays and Sundays, on evenings, and when the schools are not in session. The schools cannot be dismissed in order to accommodate or make room for meetings of the kind specified, or of any other kind. The use of the word "temporary" in the law should not be overlooked. Making arrangements for the long continued occu- pancy of the school house by any society, private school or church is not contemplated by the law. [Sherlock v. Winnetka^ 68 111., 530; Weir v. Day, 35 0., 143.] Permitting the school house to be used for church purposes is not forbidden by section 3 of article 9 of the constitution prohibiting any appropriation in aid of any church. [Nichols- V. School Directors, 93 111., 61.] (c) Sale of School Property. It will be seen that in order legally to sell and convey district school property, the consent of the directors must first be had, and then, in addition, there- must be a petition therefor, signed by a majority of all the legal voters of the district. When such petition, approved by the di- rectors, is filed with the board of trustees, it then becomes their duty (and not till then) to proceed to sell and convey the prop- erty in the manner prescribed. As the title to school sites and property is in the trustees, they only have power to sell. The money received must be paid over to the township treasurer, for the use and benefit of the district ; no part of said avails should be paid to the directors, or any of them. And when notes are given by purchasers of school property, said notes should be drawn in favor of the township treasurer — not of the directors — for the use and benefit of the proper district. 40. To"wnship treasurer custodian — Removal of treasurer — Suit on bond. § 40. The township board shall cause all moneys for the use of the townships and districts to be paid over to the township treasurer, who is hereby consti- tuted and declared to be the only lawful depositary and cus- todian of all township and district school funds, (a) They shall have power also to remove the township treasurer at any 92 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. time, for any failure or refusal to execute or comply with any order or requisition of said board, legally made, or for other improper conduct in the discharge of his duty as treasurer. They shall also have power, for any failure or refusal as afore- said, to sue him upon his bond. (6) (a) 1. Treasurer to hold all Funds. The township treasurer is the lawful custodian of each of the three funds which to- gether constitute all public school funds of the township, the permanent township fund, the distributable fund, and the dis- trict funds. Tuition fees, money paid on transfers, taxes col- lected, insurance money and money borrowed, must all go into his hands. [Adams v. The State, 82 111., 132.] The reason for this provision of the law is at once apparent when it is remembered that he is the only school officer in the township wlao gives a bond. But the treasurer may not receive for school funds or moneys anything which the law has not author- ized to be so received ; and if he does so and receipts for taxes on that account, he must make good the amount in case of valid objection thereto. [Jones v. Wright,^ Mich., 371 ; Living- stone V. Trustees, 99 111., 564; Humiston v. Trustees, 7 111. Ai^^p. (7 Brad.), 122.] But in the case last cited the directors were held to be estopped from demanding money of a treasurer whom they had authorized to take coupons of the collector. 2. Trustees to enforce the Law — Cannot ivithdraw Funds. It is the business of the trustees to see that the law in this re- gard is complied with. But township trustees have no right whatever to withdraw the bonds, notes, mortgages, moneys and effects, denominated the principal of the township fund, nor the funds subject to distribution, from the custody of the town- ship treasurer, and deposit the same in a bank, or other place of supposed greater safety, or for any other purpose. If they do, they are individually liable in case of loss. By section sixty-two, the treasurer, upon the execution and approval of his bond, "shall demand, receive and safely keep, all moneys, books and papers of every description belonging to his town- ship." Section forty declares that trustees "shall cause all moneys, etc., to be paid over to the township treasurer." The safety of the funds and effects of the township is in the suffi- ciency of the treasurer's penal bond, and of his securities ; not in the supposed material strength of the place of deposit. The treasurer takes that risk. If trustees take an insufficient hond, or accept inadequate securities, section seventy-four SCHOOL LAWS AST) DECISIONS. 93 makes them individually liable. They may increase the securi- ties to any necessary extent, but they cannot withdraw the funds and papers. (b) 1. Trustees may remove Treasurer. The trustees may remove the treasurer for cause. The phrase "legally made" in this connection must be held to mean made by the board when duly assembled, with a record thereof; and the order, for violation of which he may be removed, must be one requiring him to do some lawful act in relation to matters pertaining ta his office. The appointment of a new treasurer and the approval of his bond is, in effect, removing the former treasurer whose term has not expired. [Holbrook v. Trustees, 22 111., 539.] 41. Trustees may take, hold and sell real estate — May settle claims. § 41. The township trustees are hereby vested with general power and authority to purchase real es- tate, if, in their opinion, the interests of the township fund will be promoted thereby, in satisfaction of any judgment or decree wherein the said board or county superintendent are plaintiffs or complainants ; and the title of such real estate so purchased shall vest in said board, for the use of the inhabi- tants of said township, for school purposes. The said board are hereby vested with general power and authority to make all settlements with persons indebted to them in their official capacity ; or receive deeds of real estate in compromise ; and to cancel, in such manner as they may think proper, notes, bonds, mortgages, judgments and decrees, existing, or that may hereafter exist, for the benefit of the township, when the in- terest of said township, or the fund concerned, shall, in their opinion, require it, and their action shall be valid, (a) Said board of trustees are hereby authorized to lease or sell, at public auction, any land that may come into their possession, in such manner and on such terms as they may deem for the interest of the township : Provided, that in all cases of sale of land as provided in this section, the sale shall be made at the same place, and notice given of it in the same manner as is provided in this act for the sale of the sixteenth section; and all such sales shall be by public auction, (b) (a) 1. Trustees may take Property in Compromise. The power to make compromises is one to be exercised strictly, as the statute says, "when the interest of said township or the fund concerned shall, in their opinion, require it." Entire good faith is demanded of the trustees in any such transaction. The re- sponsibility can be in no way lessened or divided by referring such a matter to the voters of the township. It is not a ques- '94 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. tion upon which the law provides for a vote by the electors, and a vote is, therefore, of no effect. [District township of Washington v. Thomas, 59 la., 50. j 2. Reference to Township Funds — Exempt from Taxation. Reference is had to the township fund and the investments of the fund. The term "bonds" refers to school bonds held as a part of the fund, as permitted in section 57 of the law, and not to the official bond given by the township treasurer. All lands taken as a part of this fund are exempt from taxation from the time the title vests in the trustees. [Chicago v. People, 80 111., 384; People v. Trustees, 118 111., 52; note {a) p. 10; article 9, section 8, etc., p 11.] (b) 1. Leasing Lands. For further powers and limitations in regard to leasing lands, see Sec. 108. 2. Sale of Lands — How Made. If the lands which come into ithe possession of the trustees are sixteenth section lands, it is not necessary that there be a petition to give authority for their sale, as in the first instance [§ 83], nor is it necessary that the county superintendent make the sale. ■ Any and all lands which the trustees acquire by purchase, settlement or compromise, may be sold by them on their own motion. The steps prescribed are : (1) If there is a newspaper published in the county, notice of the time, place and terms of the sale, with a description of the land, must be published in it for four weeks before the sale. If there is no such newspaper, then notices giving the same information must be posted in six public places in the .county, forty days next before the sale, [§ 88.] (2) The sale must be made upon the premises, or at the court liouse of the county in which the land is situated. [§ 88.] (3) The sale must be by public auction. Should the trust- ees employ the county superintendent, as they may, to conduct the sale, they may pay him a reasonable sum for his services ; but the sale would not be one for which section seventy-one gives him commissions. The sales there referred to are the original sales of sixteenth section lands, and sales of such lands as may come into his own hands as a part of any school fund held by him officially. SCHOOL DIRECTORS — THEIR ELECTION AND DUTIES. 42. Election— Term of Office— Vacancies. § 42. The annual election of school directors shall be on the third Sat- SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 95 Tirday of April, when one director shall be elected in each district, who shall hold his office , for three years, and until his successor is elected. In new districts the first election may be on any Saturday, notice being given by the township treasurer as for the election of trustees, when three directors shall be elected, who shall, at their first meeting, draw lots for their respective terms of office, for one, two and three years. When vacancies occur, the remaining director or directors shall, without delay, order an election to fill such vacancies ; which election shall be held on Saturday. Notices — Treasurer or county superintendent may order election. Notices of all elections in organized dis- tricts shall be given by the directors, at least ten days pre- vious to the day of said election.* Said notices shall be posted in at least three of the most public places in the dis- trict, and shall specify the place where such election is to be held, the time of opening and closing the polls, and the question or questions to be voted on. Should the directors fail or refuse to order any regular or special election as aforesaid, it shalt be the duty of the township treasurer to order such election ; and if he fails to do so, then it shall be the duty of the county superintendent to order such election of directors within ten days, in each case of such failure or refusal ; and the election held in pursuance of such order shall be valid, i;he same as if ordered by the directors. Ho\^ conducted — Judges — Postponement — Tie. Two of the directors ordering the election shall act as judges, and one as clerk of said election. But if said directors, or any of them, shall fail to order an election, to attend, or [shall] refuse to act when present, and in unorganized districts, the legal voters, when assembled, shall choose such additional number as may be necessary to act as two judges and a clerk of said election : Provided, that if upon the day appointed for said election, the said directors or judges shall be of opinion that, on account of the small attendance of voters, the public good requires it, or if the voters present, or a majority of ihem, shall desire it, they shall postpone said election until ihe next Saturday, at the same place and hour, when the voters shall proceed as if it were not an adjourned meeting: And, provided, also, that if notice shall not have been given as above required, then said election may be ordered as afore- said, and holden on the Third Saturday in April, or any other Saturday, notice thereof being given as aforesaid. In case of a tie. the judges shall decide it by lot on the day of election, {a) Organization of board — Records — jVIeetings. The directors within ten days after the annual election of the directors, shall meet and organize by appointing one of their number president and another of their number clerk, who shall *rorm No. 19. 96 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. keep a record of all the official acts of the board in a well bound book provided for that purpose, which record shall be signed bj^ the president and clerk, and shall be submitted to the township treasurer for his inspection and approval on the first Mondays of April and October, and at such other times as the township treasurer may require. The board of directors shall hold regular meetings at such times as they shall desig- nate; and they may hold special meetings, as occasion may require, _ at the call of the president or any two memberSj and no official business shall be transacted by the board except at a regular or special meeting. Reports to treasurer — To voters — Pay of clerk. If the president or clerk be absent from any meeting, or refuse to perform his official duties a president or clerk pro tempore shall be appointed, {h) The clerk of each board of school directors shall report to the township treasurer or treasurers of the proper township or townships, immediately after the organization of the board, the names of the president and clerk, and on or before the seventh day of July, annually, such statistics and other information in relation to the schools of their respective districts, as the township treasurer is required to embody in his report to the county superintendent, and the particular statistics to be so reported shall be deter- mined and designated by the state superintendent of public instruction. At the annual election of director, the directors shall make a detailed report of their receipts and expenditures to the voters there present, a copy of which shall be trans- mitted to the township treasurer within five days of the time of said election. They shall also report the number and names of persons above the age of twelve years and under twenty-one, residing in the district, who are unable to read and write, and the causes of the neglect to educate them. Directors are authorized to use any funds belonging to their district, and not otherwise appropriated, for the purchase of a suitable book for their records, and the said records shall be kept in a punctual, orderly and reliable manner. They may also, where they deem the amount of labor done sufficient to justify it, allow out of such funds a compensation to said clerk for duties actually performed, (c) Return of election— Penalty. Within ten days after every election of directors the judges shall cause the poll-book to be delivered to the township treasurer, with a certificate thereon, showing the election of said directors and the names of the persons elected; which poll-book shall be filed by the township treasurer, and shall be evidence of said election. In the case of a union district made up of parts of two or more townships the poll-book shall be returned to the township treas- urer who receives the tax money of said district. For failure to deliver said poll-book within the time prescribed, the judges shall be liable to the same penalty as is prescribed in section SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 97 thirty (30), which penalty may be recovered in the same man- ner as is provided in said section, and when collected, shall be added to the district funds, (d) Non-residence of trustee or director makes a va- cancy. If any trustee or director shall not be an inhabitant of the district or township which he represents, an election shall be ordered to fill the vacancy; and no person shall be at the same time a director and a trustee, (e) Trustees and directors not to be interested in con- tracts of their boards. Nor shall a director or trustee be interested in any contract made by the board of which he is a member. (/) [June 3 — -July 1, 1879.] (a) 1. Election of Directors. What has been said upon the provisions of the law with regard to the elections of trustees and the questions connected therewith applies also to these clauses of section forty-two concerning the election of directors. See notes (a) and (b), Sec. 25, on Time and Place, and Post- j)onenient; note (a). Sec. 27, on Judges, Ballots, Qualifications of Voters, Challenges, Poll-Book and Tally-Sheet, Pluralitiy, Tie, Highest Candidate Ineligible, Ballots more or less than Names on Poll- Book, Informalities and Irregidarities, Contest; note (ci) Sec. 30, on Failure of Judges to make Return. See also Sec. 28 on Qualifications of Voters; Sec. 33, note {i) on Election in Districts in two Counties; Sec. 126 on Elections in Districts in tvhole or in part in Cities, Toivns and Villages ivhich have adopt- ed the Election Laiv of June 19 — Jidy 1, 1885. 2. Hoiv long the Polls shall be Open. The law does not in- dicate at all how long the polls should be kept open. This matter is left for the directors to determine, and they should make the time long enough for all to vote. 3. Election upon Special Questions. Except in the case when a school township maintains a township high^school, there are no questions to submit to the voters at a township school elec- tion ; such elections are held for the sole purpose of electing trustees. But the voters of a school district at either the regu- lar or a special election may be asked to vote upon some other question or questions. These are : (1) To borrow money. [§ 47.] (2) To refund bonds. [§ 138.] (3) To purchase or locate a school house site. [§ 48.] (4) To purchase or build a school house. [§ 48.] (5) To move a school house. [§ 48.] yb SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. (6) To levy a tax to extend the school beyond nine months. [§ 48.] (7} To add "other branches" to the course of study. [§ 50.] (8) If the district has not less than one thousand inhabit- ants, it may vote upon a question as to changing district lines. [§ 33.] In regard to the first six of these questions, directors are forbidden to act without a vote. 4. Vote upon other Matters of 7io Legal Effect. In all other district affairs the school board acts without a vote of the people ; and a vote upon any other question than those named above, as upon employing a certain person for a teacher, is advisory only, and is not binding upon the board. "The elec- tors can exercise such powers only as are conferred by statute either expressly or by reasonable implication." [District Town- ship of Washington v. Thomas, 59 la., 50; School District v. Harvey, 56 Vt., 556.] 5. Notice. The notice must state the question or questions to be voted upon. A vote upon a question not presented in the notice is void, even though the question be one which may be the subject of a vote ; for the question is not before the people unless stated in the notice. 6. Ballots. Votes upon these questions must be by ballot, and the ballot must follow the notice. If the notice presents the question, "To vote for building a school house," the ballots must read "For" or "Against building a school house." If a majority of the ballots should read "For borrowing money to build a school house," the directors would not be empowered by the vote to build, since borrowing money was what was voted upon. Neither would the directors be empowered to borrow naoney, for that question was not submitted in the notice. In such a case the election would be void, so far as relates to the question submitted. 7. One Ticket, and hut one Balloting. All the questions to be voted upon and, if there be an election of a director, the name of the person voted for, should be upon one ticket. There can be but one balloting at one election ; since for that the polls must be open all the time named in the notice, and by the one ballot the power of the electors to vote under the call made has been exhausted. [State v. Adams, 58 Vt., 694.] SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 99 8. Questions may be voted on a Second Time. This subject is considered in Sec. 48, note (/), 7. 9. Vacancies. The careful provisions of the law for filling vacancies in the board of school trustees have already been seen [note (c), § 25], and the same pains is taken to have all vacancies, whether regular or extraordinary, in the board of directors promptly filled. The clear intention is that a director shall not hold over, and that the board shall be full constantly, so that the district may both have the judgment of three men upon the management of its affairs, and may itself control the membership of the board through the annual election. 10. Elections, hoiv called. One director may, if he is the only member of the board left, call an election to choose members of the board; and an election to choose a member or members of the board may be called, in the cases named in the law, by the township treasurer or the county superintendent. [See note (c), 3, Sec. 23.] 11. In Union District — In District in two Counties. If the district in which there is a vacancy lies in two townships, and the remaining director or directors fail to order an election, the two treasurers may jointly order it. If this cannot be done, an election called by either treasurer and duly held would be held to be a sufficient compliance with the law. In the same way, if both directors and treasurer fail to call an election to fill a vacancy in a district lying in two counties, both county superintendents may call the election jointly, or either may call it. 12. SjJecial questions submitted by School Board only. But submitting questions to a vote can be done by order of the board of directors, and in no other way. 13. Election on What Days. The regular election and the election to fill a vacancy must be held on Saturday ; but one called to vote upon special questions only may be called for any week day. (b) 1. Organization of Board of Directors. The board of directors is required to meet and organize within ten days of the election ; but by a failure to organize within the time named, ihe directors do not vacate their offices ; the duty to meet and ■organize continues, and should be performed so that the board may be ready to enter upon its official work. The members make themselves liable to a fine [§ 76] by neglecting the man- date of the law. 100 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 2. Records. The duty of the clerk of the board is to keep in permanent form a record of all the official acts of the board. A subsequent clause of the section authorises the board to purchase a suitable book and says "the said records shall be kept in a punctual, orderly and reliable manner." The record of each meeting should be written up immediately after the- meeting and signed by the president and clerk. It is of the utmost importance that every school board keep such a record as this. "Lack of such official records," says one who knows,, "has caused more lawsuits and losses, more confusion and trouble, in the financial and general business administration of the school system than any other thing." The record book of the district should contain a full history of its school affairs. Dates, names, resolutions, votes, etc., should be given with such exactness that no trouble can arise which a reference to its pages will not help to settle. Financial statements and re- ports should be spread out on the record book. Documents that are merely filed are soon lost. 3. Meetings. What has been said in note (a). Sec. 82, with regard to special meetings of trustees applies with equal force to similar meetings of directors, and the decisions of the courts cited there control here also. The clause added here is of special significance : "And no official business shall be trans- acted by the board except at a regular or special meeting." Members of a school board, acting individually, can bind neither the board nor the person with whom they attempt to contract. An agreement by members of a school board, acting in their individual capacity, to purchase apparatus, etc., from another person, and to ratify same at the next regular rneet- ing is contrary to public policy and void. [McCortle v. Bates, 29 0., 419.] The fact that articles, purchased by one or more of the directors without authority of the board, have been used by the school does not amount to a ratification of the purchase or impose upon the district any obligation to pay for them. [Johnson v. School District, 67 Mo., 319.] An order not authorized, or allowed, or executed at a legal meeting is void. [Mincer v. School District, 27 Kas., 253.] The action of a majority of a school district board will not bind the district, without notice to or participation therein of the other member. [People Y.Peters, 4 Neb., 254.] SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 101 4. Regular Meetings. The directors ought to hold a regular meeting once a month while the school is in session, in order io examine and approve the schedules, issue teacher's orders and consult with him over the interests of the school ; and it will be well to continue such meetings through the year. If they will take this course, referring particularly to the regular meeting all strangers who attempt to deal with them individu- ally, they will have little occasion for special meetings, and. the business of the board will be conducted more nearly with such deliberation and good judgment as its importance de- mands, and there will be fewer purchases of high priced light- ning rods, and fewer needless changes of text books. (c) Reports — Penalties. It is necessary that the treasurer have the names of the president and secretary of each board of directors, in order that he may have a check upon the sig- natures of their orders. He needs also a copy of their finan- cial report, so that he may readily compare his account with theirs. Directors are required to submit their records to the town- ship treasurer for his inspection, on the first Mondays of April and October, and at such other times as he may require. It is hoped that treasurers will faithfully perform this duty, and do all they can by their aid and advice to bring about a uni- form and reliable system of district records. They will be more than repaid in the increased facilities afforded them in making out their annual reports to the county superintendent. This financial report of the directors is made to the voters to show them how their money has been spent, and should be presented at such time during the progress of the election as will give it the greatest publicity. Posting the semi-annual statements of the treasurer upon the door of the building where the election is held is required for the same purpose. [Sec. 63, note {b).'\ For the value and desirableness of accurate statistical reports, see Sec. 17, note (a). For penalties for neglect to make a report and for making a false report, see Sec. 76. (d) 1. Return of Poll Book. The original poll book is to be taken to the township treasurer in the case of every dis- trict election. For the effect of a failure to make the return, see Sec. 30, note (a), 1. 102 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 2. Township Treasurer Custodian only of Return. The town- ship treasurer has the same duty in regard to the return of a district election, that the county superintendent has in regard to the return of a township ; that is, he must receive and file it. He has no authority of law to declare the election void. Compare Sec. 30, note (a), 3. (e) 1. Vacancies. For a fuller statement of how vacancies may occur, see Sec. 29, note (a) ; note (a), 8, above. 2. Offices of Director and Trustee Incompatible. The offices- of trustee and director are declared incompatible, so that they may not be held at the same time by one person. If a man who is a trustee is elected a director, he must choose which office he will hold ; and must do the same if, being a director^ he is chosen a trustee. (/) 1. Directors and Trustees must not he interested in Con- tracts. A very explicit interpretation of this clause has been given by our supreme court m School Directors v. Parks, 85- 111., 338. In this case suit was brought to recover from Parks two sums of money which had, it was alleged, been paid him on orders drawn by the other two members of the board for labor in repairing the school house and for fuel furnished while he was a director. The court held that the statute then in force —it is the same now — absolutely prohibited a director from being interested in any contract made by the board of which he was a member. This embraces every contract whether express or implied, by virtue of which money can be drawn from the treasurer ; and it cannot be evaded by appropriations or payments from the treasurer for labor performed, or materials furnished for the benefit of the district, on the pretext that they were performed or furnished without any con- tract but, being beneficial to and enjoyed'by the district, should be paid for as a matter of justice. Both the letter and the spirit of the law forbid that directors shall, in anywise, whether directly or indirectly, openly or covertly, become interested in demands or claims, originating while they are directors, to be satisfied by payments from the funds of their districts ; and this construction must be rigidly enforced by the courts, with- out regard to the moral or equitable considerations that may- urge a different policy in particular cases. 2. Directors and Trustees may not be paid for Services. Except that the director who is clerk of his board may be SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 103^ paid for his clerical services, both directors and trustees are forbidden by this clause of the law to draw pay for any ser- vices they may render the district and the township whose officers they are, 3 A Director may not he a Teaclier. The director may not be employed to teach in his district. 4. A Trustee may not horroiv Money from the Toivnship Fund. The trustee may not borrow money from the school fund of his township or become surety for a borrower; and if he is a borrower or a surety when elected, he must pay off his own loan if it matures while he is in office ; and when the loan for which he is surety falls due, some one else must take his place as surety, if the money is re-loaned to the same borrower. 5. Employment of a Minor Child of a Member of the Board. The school board may not employ the minor child of one of its members as a teacher, if the relations between the parent and the child are such that the father may lawfully claim the child's wages. 6. Bonds bought by a Member of the Board. A member of a school board can not enforce the payment of bonds issued to him while a member, even when there is no question that the bonds were taken with no dishonest intent and paid for in cash at par. [Heivett v. Board of Education, 94 111., 528.] 7. Lot sold to the Board and Money loaned it by a Member, Neither can payment be compelled for a lot sold the district for a school site by a director; nor for money furnished, with which the school house has been built. [Directors v. Miller, 54 111., 338.] 43. Taxation by districts — Limitations. § 43. For the purpose of establishing and supporting free schools for not less than five nor more than nine months in each year, and defraying all the expenses of the same of every description ; for the purpose of repairing and improving school houses ; of procuring furniture, fuel, libraries and apparatus, and for all other necessary incidental expenses in each district, village or city, anything in any special charter to the contrary notwith- standing, the directors of such district and the authorities of such village or city shall be authorized to levy a tax, annually, upon all the taxable property of the district, village or city^ not to exceed two per cent, for educational and three per cent, for building purposes, to be ascertained by the last assessment for state and county taxes, (a) 104 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. Surplus for library and apparatus. They may also appropriate to the purchase of hbraries and apparatus, any surplus funds, after all necessary school expenses are paid, (b) Sale of personal property. And when any school dis- trict shall own any personal property not needed for school purposes, the directors of such district may sell such property at public or private sale, as in their judgment will be for the best interest of the district, and the proceeds of such sale shall be paid over to the treasurer of such district for the benefit of said school district : Provided, no such sale shall be made until the same, and manner and terms thereof, shall be authorized by vote of the district, (c) [June 3 — July 1, 1879.] (a) 1. Length of Term of School. The term of the school must be, according to Sec. 48, not less than one hundred and ten days actually taught and more if practicable, not exceed- ing nine months except by vote of the people of the district. 2. Taxation in Districts under Special Laws. The phrase "anything in any special charter to the contrary notwithstand- ing" was put into the law by amendment in 1879, in order to relieve certain school districts under special laws which put lower limits upon taxation for school purposes. The amend- ment was held to be sufficient by Hon. C. S. Zane, circuit judge of Sangamon county. 3. The Tax Levy. The form of the levy is given in Sec. 44. It will be seen that the form does not require a levy of specific amounts for each purpose for which taxes may be levied. But if a part of the amount to be raised is for building purposes, and the whole levy is for more than two per cent., it is neces- sary to make a division in the levy so that it shall show so much for educational and so much for building purposes. The money to pay the interest and the principal of bonds issued for building purposes may be raised under the authority to levy three per cent, for building purposes. 4. Must he for School Purposes. The power to levy taxes here given is general and no attempt is made to make a com- plete enumeration of the objects for which taxes may be levied; but, on the other hand, it must be remembered that the powers of school boards are strictly limited to such as are necessary to carry out the provisions of the school law. [People v. Dupuyt, 71 111., 651 ; People v. Trustees, 78 111., 136.] No power is given to raise money with v/bich to defray the expenses of school picnics, or to buy prizes or rewards ; and, SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 105 hence, directors have no power to use school moneys for such purposes. [Law v. People, 87 111., 385.] The school funds of every district must be kept and con- sidered as a unit, for the purposes contemplated by law. The school law knows no particular class, nationality, religion or sect. The taxes paid by persons of a particular sect, class or nationality, can not be withdrawn from the common fund to pay the teacher of a separate school established for their own special benefit. Such a proceeding would be at war with the fundamental idea of our system of common schools. 5. Vote not needed for Levy for Educational Purposes. No vote of the people is needed to authorize the directors to levy a tax for educational purposes ; neither does a vote of the people in this regard, if one be had, change or limit in any way the power of the directors, except as to extending the school beyond nine months ; for it is not one of the questions upon which the law provides for a vote. [District Totvnship of Washington v. Tliomas, 59 la., 50.] 6. Vote needed for Levy for Building Purposes. But there must be an antecedent vote to build, to purchase or to move a school house and to choose or locate a school house in order to authorize and make legal a tax levy for such purposes. [Directors v. Fogleman, 76 111., 189.] There having been a vote to build a school house or to purchase one, or to locate or purchase a site, etc., [See Sec. 48, note (/), 5], the board may proceed, without any further vote, to levy a tax for these pur- poses, not exceeding the limit named above. 7. Money must he used for Purpose for which it tvas raised. Moneys raised for a special purpose, as for building a school house, may not be devoted to any other purpose ; so, too, funds obtained for the support of schools and defraying the expenses of the same, may not be paid out for building purposes. [Pennington v. Coe, 57 111., 118.] 8. Surplus, how used. If there be a clearly ascertained sur- plus in any special fund, as there may be in a building fund if the house has cost less than the amount raised, the school board can turn the surplus into the general fund. (b) 1. Money for Libraries and Apparatus. There are two ways in which money may be had for school libraries and ap- paratus. The directors may make a special levy for such pur- poses, since they are named as objects for which taxes may be —7 106 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. levied, in the first part of the section. But if no levy has been made for such purpose, then any surplus of the general levy, after all necessary school expenses have been paid, may be appropriated to the purchase of apparatus and books for the library. 2. Same, not to be purchased on Credit. A purchase of such articles on credit, when it does not appear that there is any. such surplus, is void, and no contract is implied by law to pay for such articles arising from their receipt and use. The only remedy of the seller, in such a case, is to take his property. [Clark V. Directors, 78 111., 474; Folsom v. Directors, 91 111., 402.] (c) Sale of School House. For power to sell the school house and lot, see sec. 39, (c) 44. Tax levy— Form of certificate. § 44. The direct- ors of each district shall ascertain, as far as practicable, an- nually, how much money must be raised by special tax for school purposes during the ensuing year, which amount shall be certified and returned to the township treasurer, on or be- fore the first Tuesday of August, annually. The certificate of the directors may be in the following form, viz : We hereby certify that we require the amount of [dollarsl to be levied as a special tax for school purposes on the taxable property of our district, the year 18.. Given under our hands this day of 18 — A. B. ) Directors, district No , township C. D. - No range No , county E. F. ) of , state of Illinois. It shall be the duty of the township treasurer to return said certificates to the county clerk on or before the second Moriday of August ; and whenever the boundaries of the districts of the township shall have been changed, the township treasurer shall return to the county clerk, with the certificates, a map of the township showing such changes, and certified as required in the thirty-third section of this act. (a) When district is in two counties. When a district lies partly in two or more counties, the directors shall determine and certify the amounts to be levied on the taxable property lying in each county, and return the same to the county treas- urer, who shall return them to the respective county clerks, as hereinbefore provided : Provided, that in order to determine the amount to be levied on the taxable property of the part of the district lying in each county, the directors shall ascertain from the county clerks of the respective counties in which such district lies, the last ascertained equalized value of the taxable property of such district lying in their respective counties, and shall then ascertain the rate per cent, required, and shall ap- portion the whole amount to be raised between the several parts of the district so lying in different counties, accordingly. And SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 107 it shall be the duty of the county clerk of each county to de- liver to the directors of such district, on their application, a certificate showing the last ascertained equalized value of the taxable property in that part of such district lying in such <30unty. (b) [June 3— July 1, 1879.] (a) 1. Certificate of Levy Essential. There must be a cer- tificate of levy to authorize a tax. In a sense, such certificates are jurisdictional, and any tax extended for school purposes, when no such certificate has been returned by the directors as required by this section of the statute, is without authority of law and null and void. [Weber v. 0. and M. Ky Co., 108 111., 451.] 2. Amount of Levy. The power given for taxation is ample to produce all the money needed for school purposes in addi- tion to the income of school funds and the state tax in all but a very few of the school districts of the state, and the manifest intention of the law is that the current business of the dis- tricts shall be done on a cash basis. Hence, when directors are making their levy, they should first ascertain what their un- appropriated resources are and then make the levy large enough to pay all expenses, until February of the second year after the levy. 3. Irregularity in Levy. A failure to make the return on the day named is an irregularity which, if the levy be made later, is cured by Sec. 191, Chap. 120, Eev. Stat. [Moore v. Fessen- heck, 88 111., 422.] 4. Maps, etc. It is essential that the county clerk have correct maps of school districts in order that he may mark the district opposite each tract of land upon the collector's book and so inform the collector to what district the tax funds belong. If all maps of changes made have already been filed as required by Sec. 33, then the treasurer need not send in a new map with the certificates of levy ; but if he has neglected his duty in this regard, he must not fail to send in an ac- curate map with them. (b) Levy when District is in two Counties. This provision of the law showing how the school tax must be divided between the parts of a district lying in two counties, must be followed implicitly. It is not permissible for directors to divide it upon any other basis. 45. County clerk to compute and extend tax — As- sessor to note district for personalty. § 45, According 108 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. to the amount certified as aforesaid, the said county clerk,, when making out the tax books for the collector, shall com- pute each taxable person's tax in said district upon the total amount of taxable property as equalized by the state board of equalization for that year, lying and being in said district, whether belonging to residents or non-residents, and also each and every tract of land assessed by the assessor, which lies, or the largest part of which lies, in said district. The said county clerk shall cause each person's tax so computed to be set upon the tax book to be delivered to the collector for that year, in a separate column, against each tax-payer's name or parcel of taxable property, as it appears in said collector's book, to be collected in the same manner and at the same time, and by the [same] persons as state and county taxes are collected. It shall be the duty of assessors, when making assessments of personal property, to designate the number of the school district m which each person so assessed resides ; which designation shall be made by writing the number of such district opposite each person's assessment of personal property, in a column provided for that purpose in the assess- ment roll returned by the assessor to the county clerk. It shall be the duty of the county clerk to copy said numbers of school districts, as returned by the assessor into the collector's book, and to extend the school tax on each person's assess- ment of personal property according to the rate required by the amount designated by the directors of the school district in which such person resides. It is hereby made the duty of the proper of&cers, in preparing blank books and notices for the use of assessors, to provide columns and blanks for the use of assessors as above described. The computations of eack person's tax, and the levy made by the clerk, as aforesaid, shall be final and conclusive : Provided, the rate shall be uniform, and shall not exceed that required by the amount certified by the board of directors. County clerk to send treasurers certificates of tax — Collector to pay treasurer and to give list of delin- quent taxes. And the said county clerk, before delivering the tax book to the collector, shall make out and send by mail to each township treasurer of the respective townships in the county, a certificate of the amount due each district, or fraction of a district in his township, of said tax, so levied and placed upon the tax books, and on or before the first day of April next after the delivery of the tax books containing the computation and levy of said taxes aforesaid, or so soon thereafter as the township treasurer shall present the said certificate of the amount of said tax, and make a demand therefor, the said collector shall pay to said township treasurer the full amount of said tax so certified by the county clerk, or in case any part thereof remains uncollected, said collector shall, in addition to the amount collected, deliver to said SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 109 township treasurer a statement of the uncollected taxes for each district of such township, taking of the township treasurer his receipt therefor, which receipt shall be evidence, as well in favor of the collector as against the township treasurer; and said treasurer shall enter the amount collected in his books, under the proper heads, and pay the same out as pro- vided for by this act. (a) Taxes of" union districts. When a district is composed of parts of two or more townships, the directors shall determine and inform the collectors of said townships, and the collector or collectors of the county or counties in which said townships lie, in writing, under their hands as directors, which of the treasurers of the townships from which their district is formed shall demand and receive the tax money collected by the said collectors, as aforesaid, (b) [June 3 — July 1, 1879.] (a) 1. Small Excess does not make Levy Void. A small excess in the amount of the tax extended over the amount levied does not make the tax void. [Thatcher' v. The Peojjle, 79 111., 597.] 2. Personal Property — Where Taxable under the School Laiv. While personal property generally follows the residence of the owner, and is there taxable, yet if permanently located else- where, it may, under the school law, be taxed where so located ; and a party who complains of a school tax, as levied in a certain district, must show that the property was not taxable in such district. [Mills v. Thornton, 26 111., 300; King v. McDrew, 31 111., 418; First Nat'l B'k of Mendota v. Smith, 65 III., 44.] 3. Certificate of Amount due. The certificate of the amount due each district is needed by the township treasurer as a basis for settlement with the collector. He must also settle with the collector for each district, and must get the list of delinquent taxes so that he may have the data for a final settlement with the county treasurer. 4. Collector s Commission — Must pay Money. The collector is held to pay the "full amount" collected, when he pays the amount less the commissions which the law allows him. [People V. Wiltshire, 92 III., 260.] The collector must pay the treasurer money. [See note (a), 3, Sec. 40.] 5. Tax Funds go to Credit of Districts. The tax funds must be put to the credit of the proper districts as soon as received and held to be paid out as provided in Sec. 67. 110 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. (b) Funds of Union District. The purpose of this provision of the law is that all the funds of union districts may be con- solidated in the hands of one treasurer, and that their accounts may be kept with one man instead of with two or more. A further provision of the law is to be found in Sec. 67. 46. Suit against collector. § 46. If any collector shall fail to pay the amount of said tax, or any part thereof, as re- quired in the aforesaid section, it shall be competent for the township treasurer, or other authorized person, to proceed against such collector and his securities in an action of debt in any court of competent jurisdiction ; and the said collector, so in default, shall pay twelve per centum upon the amount due, to be assessed as damages, which shall be included in the judgment rendered against him: Provided, no collector shall be liable for such part of said tax as he shall be able to make appear he could not have collected by law, until he may be able to so collect such amount, (a) (rt) Suit against Collector — Penalty. Suit to recover money from the collector is properly brought upon his bond in the name of the people, and such suit may be brought without first presenting to the collector the county clerk's certificate of the amount due. [Sec. 45.] The penalty may be collected from the collector and his sureties, if sued for, but not unless the certificate has been presented. [Tappan v. The People, 67 111., 339.] 47. Borrowing money— Limit — Limit of tax— Bonds — Registration. § 47. For the purpose of building school houses, or purchasing school sites, or for repairing and im- proving same, the directors, by a vote of the people, at an election called and conducted as required in the forty-second (42) section of this act (a majority of the votes cast shall be necessay to authorize the directors to act) may borrow money, issuing bonds * executed by the officers, or at least two mem- bers of the board, in sums of not less than one hundred dol- lars ($100) ; but the rate of interest shall not exceed eight per cent, nor shall the sum borrowed in any one year exceed five per cent, (including existing indebtedness) of the taxable prop- erty of the district, to be ascertained by the last assessment for the state and county taxes previous to the incurring of such mdebtedness, nor shall the tax levied in any one year for building school houses exceed three per cent, of said taxable property, except to pay indebtedness contracted previous to the passage of this act. (a) All bonds authorized to be issued by virtue of the power granted by this act, before being so issued, negotiated and sold, shall be registered, numbered, and coun- tersigned by the school treasurer of the township wherein the school house of such district is, or is to be located. Such *Foi-m No. 22. SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. Ill register shall be made in a "bond register" book to be kept for that purpose, and in this register shall first be entered the record of the election, authorizing the directors to borrow money and then a description of the bonds issued by virtue of such authority, as to number, date, to whom issued, amount, rate of interest, and when due. All moneys borrowed under author- ity granted by this section shall be paid into the school treas- ury of the township wherein the bonds issued therefor are re- quired to be registered ; and, upon receiving said moneys, the treasurer shall deliver the bond or bonds issued therefor, to the parties entitled to receive the same, and shall credit the funds received to the district issuing the bonds, and enter in the "bond register" the exact amount received for each and every bond issued, and when any such bonds are paid, the township treasurer shall cancel the same, and shall enter in the "bond register" against the record of such bonds the words "paid and canceled this day of , A. D ," filling the blanks with the day, month and year corresponding with the date of such payment, (h) [May 11 — July 1, 1877 ; June 3 — July 1, 1879.] (a) 1. Borrowing Money limited to Purposes named. Direct- ors are authorized to borrow money "for the purpose of build- ing school houses, or purchasing school sites, or for repairing and improving the same." This enumeration of purposes for which money may be borrowed is a limitation upon the power of school boards. They cannot involve the districts in debt for any other purpose whatever, unless it be for teachers' wages as provided in Sec. 53. For school boards have such powers as are given them by the statute and such others only as are necessary to carry into effect granted powers. [Clark v. Direct- ors, 78 111., 474; Peers v. Board of Education, 72 111., 508.] 2. A Vote to build and a Vote to borrow must precede Bor- rowing. But before directors may exercise this power to bor- row money for building a school house (purchasing a house already built is held to be the same as building in The People V. Sisson, 98 111., 335), there must be (1) a vote to build a house, and (2) a vote to borrow money for such purpose. The propositions must be submitted as separate propositions, i. e., so that the people shall vote upon both ; but they may be both submitted at the same time. Should it happen, however, that when both were submitted at the same time, the proposition io build failed and the proposition to borrow money carried, the power to borrow could not be exercised, for there would be no existing purpose for which to borrow. 112 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. . 3, Same in regard to a Site. So, too, if money is to be borrowed for the purchase of a site, there must be both a legal location of a particular site, or a vote to purchase one, which is the same thing, and a vote to borrow money for such pur- pose. [ScJiool Directors v. Taylor, 54 111., 289; Board of Edu- cation V. Taft, 7 111. App. (7 Brad.), 571.] 4. Vote needed to authorize enlarging the House— Repairs. If the improvement which the directors wish to make consists in enlarging the house, this is a question which must be sub- mitted to a vote, for it is closely allied to building, and it may well be that the people would prefer to rebuild the school house, or to build an additional house, rather than to enlarge the one they have. But if the directors wish to borrow money to make ordinary repairs and improvements to the building and grounds, the only question to be submitted is the question of borrowing money. 5. Form of Proposition to borrow Money— Notices. The direct- ors may ask authority to borrow a certain amount, and in such case the power, if given, would be limited to the amount named. But if the proposition is simply "to borrow money" for purposes named, then a favorable vote gives the directors power to borrow up to the limit named in the statute. [The People V. Sisson, 98 111., 335.] In any case, the notices and the ballots must correspond, and a majority of the ballots cast upon a proposition sub- mitted is necessary to authorize the directors to act. For instance, if the notice submits the proposition of bor- rowing three thousand dollars, and ten ballots read "For bor- rowing three thousand dollars," and fifteen, "For borrowing two thousand dollars," it can not be held that authority has been given to borrow the smaller sum, for that was not the proposition submitted ; and yet the fifteen votes were, in effect, against borrowing three thousand dollars, and so the proposi- tion submitted was beaten. If a vote be not taken upon a proper notice, the directors get no power therefrom ; and an issue of bonds based upon such a vote would not be a valid claim against the district in whose behalf they were issued. [Thatcher v. People, 93 111., 240; Thatcher v. People, 98 111., 632.] 6. Limitations of Indebtedness. Limiting the amount of in- debtedness to five per cent, of the valuation of the taxable property is in accordance with Sec. 12, Art. 9, Const. 1870. SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 113 See page 11. The same section limits the term of the bonds to twenty years. The limitation of taxation for paying off bonds is the same as the limitation of taxation for building purposes in Sec. 43. 7. Bonds — Notes. Power to borrow money carries with it, at common law, the power to give evidence of the loan — usually carries with it the power to execute promissory notes and simple contracts incident to the loan. The words of the statute "to execute bonds" give further power, i. e., to execute a bond, a paper under seal. Hence, if, pursuant to votes to build and to borrow money therefor, directors issue notes, or iime orders bearing interest, such notes or orders are valid obligations of the district. [Folsom v. Directors, 91 111., 402.] (b) 1. Bond Register. The bond register which must be kept by the treasurer should be a durable record. But he need not get a separate book unless the township is large, and one in which there are likely to be frequent issues of bonds. In almost all townships it will be enough to set aside some pages in the book in which he keeps his accounts with dis- tricts, and rule them suitably for a register. In making up the record of the election at which it was voted to borrow money, he should include a copy of the notice, for that is an essential part of the record. The money received upon bonds must go to the township treasurer, since he is the only lawful depositary of all school funds. [Sec. 40, note {a); Adams v. State, 82 111., 132.] 2. Bonds may not he sold beloiv Par. . The bonds may not be sold at less than par; and if they are sold below par, the directors are personally liable for the loss. [Ibid.] 3. Bonds may be exchanged for a House. "The power given by the statute to borrow money for the purpose of building school houses or purchasing school sites, embraces, no doubt, the power to purchase a school site having already a school house thereon." [People v. Sisson, 98 111., 335.] But too much must not be inferred from this last case cited: for a prudent business man would certainly accept the decision of the su- preme court of Nebraska to the effect that bonds may be issued for money only, not bargained away to contractors. [State v. School District, 16 Neb., 182.] 4. Bonds may not be taken by Member of Board. A school director may not take bonds issued by the board of which he 114 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. is a member. [Heivett v. Board of Education, 94 III., 528; Directors v. Miller, 54 111., 338; Sec. 42, note (/).] 5. Bonds payable at Office of Treasurer. In the absence of express statutory authority, school bonds and the interest on them may not be made payable anywhere else than at the township treasury ; or, if provision for their payment elsewhere be made, such provision is void. [People v. Tazeivell County, 22 111., 147; City of Pekin v. Reynolds, 31 111., 529; Sherlock y. Winnetka, 68 111., 580.] 6. Befunding Bonds with Registration loith State Auditor. School bonds may be refunded, with registration with the auditor of public accounts, under the act of Feb. 16, 1865, a& amended by the act approved and in force April 27, 1877, and further amended by the acts of May 28-July 1, 1879, and June 4-July 1, 1879. [Sections 1-11, Chap. 113, Rev. Stat. III.] Nothing is gained by this registration, unless it is proposed to sell the bonds at a distance, on the market. School boards thinking of registering refunding bonds should correspond with the auditor of public accounts. 7. Refunding ivithout Registration. School bonds may be refunded without registration under the act inserted later as Sec. 138. 8. Vote necessary to refund Bonds. In either case it will be noted that a vote of the people of the district upon the ques- tion is needed to give the school directors power to refund district bonds. 9. Sinking Fund. A sinking fund may be created under the provisions of the act of May 28-July 1, 1881. [Sections 36-38, Chap. 113, Rev. Stat.] 48. Directors a body politic and corporate — Name — Quorum— Liability. § 48. The directors of each district are hereby declared a body politic and corporate, by the name of "school directors of district No , township No , range. . . . , county of , and the State of Illinois," and by that name may sue and be sued in all courts and places whatever. Two (2) directors shall be a quorum for business. The directors shall be liable as directors for the balance due teachers, and for all debts legally contracted, {a) School for 110 days — Who may attend. They shall establish and keep in operation for at least one hundred and ten (110) days of actual teaching in each year, without reduc- tion by reason of closing schools upon legal holidays, or for any other cause, and longer if practicable, a sufficient number of free schools for the accommodation of all children in the SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 115 district over the age of six (6) and under twenty- one (21) years and shall secure to all such children the right and opportunity to an equal education in such free schools, (b) Rules and Regulations. They shall adopt and enforce all necessary rules and regulations for the management and government of the schools, and shall visit and inspect the same, from time to time, as the good of the schools may re- quire, (c) Appointment of teachers — Dismissal. They shall ap- point all teachers ;* fix the amount of their salaries, and may dismiss them for incompetency, cruelty, negligence, immorality, or other sufficient cause, (d) Pupils assigned to schools— Studies — Text books — Books for poor children — Pupils suspended or expell- ed — Four hours a day for children under 12. They shall have power to assign pupils to the several schools. They shall direct what branches of study shall be taught, and what text books and apparatus shall be used in the several schools, and strictly enforce uniformity of text books therein, but shall not permit text books to be changed oftener than once in four (4) years. They shall have power to purchase, at the expense of the district, a sufficient number of the text books used to supply children whose parents are not able to buy them. The text books bought for such purpose shall be loaned only; and the directors shall require the teacher to see that they are properly cared for and returned at the end of each term of school. They may suspend or expel pupils who may be guilty of gross disobedience or misconduct, and no action shall lie against them for sach expulsion or suspension ; and may pro- vide that children under twelve (12) years of age shall not be confined in school more than four (4) hours daily, (e) "Vote of people necessary in cases named—Site taken by condemnation. It shall not be lawful for a board of directors to purchase or locate a school house site, or to pur- chase, build, or move a school house, or to levy a tax to ex- tend schools beyond nine (9) months, without a vote of the people at an election called and conducted as required in the forty-second (42) section of this act ; a majority of the votes cast shall be necessary to authorize the directors to act: Provided, that if no one locality shall receive a majority of all the votes cast at such election, the directors may, if in their judg- ment the public interests require it, proceed to select a suitable school house site ; and the site so chosen by them shall, in such case, be legal and valid, the same as if it had been de- termined by a majority of the votes cast ; and the site so selected by either of the methods above provided shall be the school house site for such district ; and said district shall have the right to take the same for the purpose of a school house site, either with or without the owner's consent ; and in case Form No. 23. 116 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. the compensation to be paid for such site cannot, for any reason, be agreed upon or determined between the school di- rectors and the parties interested in the land taken for such site, then it shall be the duty of the directors of such district to proceed to have such compensation determined in the manner which may be at the time provided by law for the exercise of the right of eminent domain : Provided, that no tract of land lying outside the limits of any incorporated city or village, and lying within forty (40) rods of the dwelling house of the owner of the land, shall be taken for a school site without the owner's consent. (/) [June 3 — July 1, 1879; May 31 — July 1, 1881.J (a) 1. The School Corporation, hoiv questioned — Its Purjioses. The legality of the existence of a district can be questioned in a direct proceeding only. [People v. Trustees, 111 111., 171.] The corporation here created, like the school township, is created solely for school purposes, as a part of the machinery necessary for the maintenance of a system of public schools. Paraphrasing a paragraph in The People v. Trustees, 78 111., 136, the principle can be thus stated : The school districts were created and are continued for school purposes alone, and not for municipal purposes. They are only intended to estab- lish schools, and pay the teachers of schools taught in their jurisdiction. This is the purpose of their organization. They were not created to exercise any of the functions of govern- ment, and hence are not municipal in their nature or purpose, nor are they provided with the officers or the power to exer- cise the functions of government. Cities, towns and villages are endowed with such powers and are created and maintained for their exercise. Their very object is to aid in the govern- ment of the people. And such is true, in a more limited sense of counties. But none of these functions are conferred upon school districts : their creation is purely to aid in the great scheme of accomplishing universal education. 2. Quorum — Liabilities. Upon a quorum, see Sec. 32, (a), 2, and Sec. 42, (h). The liability of school directors for debts due teachers and others is a corporate, not an individual, liability; provided, always, that there is no corporate liability unless the debt has been legally contracted. 3. Legal Contracts. That a debt be legally contracted by a school board these two things must concur : (1) The debt must be for a school purpose under the law. (2) The conditions SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 117 essential to empower directors to contract the debt must exist ; for instance, the board must be assembled in its corporate capacity; the person with whom they would contract to teach must have a valid certificate for the term of the proposed con- tract ; a vote of the people to build must precede a contract with a builder, etc. Since directors are a corporation, their acts and contracts are binding upon their successors. But one board may not, unnecessarily, make contracts which will extend beyond its term. [Stevenson v. Directors, 87 111., 255.] 4. Directors not Liable personally . A contract made by the board in its official capacity does not bind the members per- sonally, even though they do not put their official title to their signatures. [Lyon v. Adamson, 7 la., 509; Harvey v. hnvin, 11 la., 82.] {b) 1. Time to he taught. There may be no reduction from the one hundred and ten days of teaching required by the law. If the school is closed because of holidays [Sec. 54], or because of the institute [Sec. 114], or because some contagious disease prevails in the district, such days may not be counted to make the one hundred and ten. It will often happen that the teacher must be paid for days which may not be counted. [Sec. 54, note (b), 4.] The one hundred and ten days must be school days, and Saturdays, Sundays, and the holidays named in Sec. 54 are not school days. Hence if the school be taught on such a day, the day may not be counted. Neither may the obligation imposed by the words "more if practicable" be overlooked. One hundred and ten days is a minimum term ; nine months is none too long. There are very few districts in the state so poor that they can justly say they cannot keep up a school for so long a term. 2. Number of Schools — Renting a House. Directors must establish a sufficient number of schools for the accommodation of all the children in the district between the ages of six and twenty-one years. It is the imperative duty of the directors to establish as many schools as the wants of their district require. If they should fail or refuse to do this, the inhabi- tants have a legal remedy. The language of the law is per- emptory : The directors "shall establish and keep in operation for at least one hundred and ten days in each year, a sufficient number 118 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. of free schools for the aocommodation of all the children in the district, over the age of six and under twenty- one years." They have no right to crowd fifty children into a house which can accommodate only thirty. If one school house is not suf- ficient, the directors must enlarge it, or must build another, and yet another, if necessary. In like manner, when the school house is inaccessible, or too remote for the convenience of all, it becomes the duty of the directors to provide a second house, so that all may be accommodated, as far as possible. It is true that directors may not purchase or locate a school site or build a school house thereon without a vote of the people. But if the people will not vote to build, the law is not nullified nor is the school board relieved of its duty to establish a school. It will be jastified in leasing and fitting up rooms for the school temporarily. [Millard v. Board of Education, 19 111., App. (19 Brad.), 48.] 3. May use a House in another District. The temporary use of a school house situated beyond the limits of a particular district is not unlawful, or incompatible with the spirit and intent of the act, which is to afford the means of common school instruction to all children of lawful age. The necessity may arise by the destruction of their own house, or inability to erect a new one in season, or the need of more room, and in many other ways. In such cases, the school belongs to the district, to all intents and purposes. It is under the charge and control of the board, is subject to all the rules and reg- ulations established by the board, and is common to the entire district. [Grove v. School Inspectors, 20 111., 532,] 4. Who may attend School. The persons to be accommodated are the children in the district over the age of six and under twenty-one years. Children under six are excluded. It is not considered that they are old enough to attend a public school. As a general rule, the residence of parents is the residence of their children. Boarding children in a district does not, of itself, entitle them to the benefits of the free school in said district. The mere temporary residence of a family in a dis- trict, solely to enjoy the benefits of the free schools, and with the intention of removal as soon as that purpose is accom- plished, does not entitle the children to the privileges of said schools. The removal of a portion of a family from the legal domicile to another district, in order to send to the free schools SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 119 thereof, does not confer the right to do so. As a general rule, the residence of their parents is the residence of employes ; hence the privilege of the free school in another district is not acquired by placing children temporarily at service in that district. This includes those who are placed in families to attend school and do chore-work for their board, etc. The most liberal policy is, however, recommended toward this class of children. The state has as much interest in their education as in that of the more favored; and, although not legally eligible to attend free, the directors should permit them to do so, when not inconsistent with the rights of others and the welfare of the school. Children who have been apprenticed, or adopted into a new family; or who have been placed per- manently in the care of others, with no intention of withdrawal ; or those over whom parents have relinquished all control from whatever cause ; or those who have no parents or guardians, or whose parents or guardians live in another state or country, and exercise no control over their children ; or those who have no permanent abode, but go from place to place in search of employment, and whose only home is where they find work — the children included in all the above classes are to be enumerated in the district where they live, and are entitled to all the rights and benefits of the free schools in said district. Boards of directors are authorized to decide all questions of residence in their respective districts. [In the matter of Wrigley, 8 Wend. ,1^4:-, Ahington y. N. Bridgewater, 23 Pick., 170; Story's Conflict of Laws, Chap. 3.] For admission on a permit of transfer, see Sec. 35. (a) 5. Admission on Payment for Tuition. The custom has grown up of admitting non-resident pupils and persons over twenty-one years upon payment of a tuition-fee. This custom is entirely outside the law ; and directors, in following it, may admit such pupils only when their admission will neither ex- clude, any who have a right to attend the school, nor in any manner abridge their school privileges. The tuition-fee charged should be a reasonable one ; and, inasmuch as the law does not provide for such a charge, directors should collect the fee in advance. Tuition-paying pupils are amenable to all the rules of the school, the same as are the other pupils, and are subject to the same control. [State v. Mizner, 45 la., 248.] 120 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 6. Children must have equal Privileges. The children of a district must be accorded equal privileges; i. e., there must be one rule for all and no discrimination against any. See» also, Sec. 105. 7. Night Schools. For those persons, to be found in all large cities, who are still of school ages but have grown up without acquiring a common school education, and who cannot attend school during the usual hours because they are com- pelled to work in the daytime, the school boards may main- tain night schools. But this class of pupils only should be admitted to such schools. Children under fourteen or fifteen years of age should be required to attend the day schools, and those who are older should not be drawn away from the day schools if they can attend them ; the night school should not be permitted to become a rival of the day school. Persons over twenty-one years of age have no more claim to free instruction in a night than in a day school. (c) 1. Rules and Regulations, hy ivhom made and how. The power to make rules for the management of the school is pri- marily with the school board, and the teacher must comply with such rules so far as they relate to him, and must enforce such as, from his position as teacher, it naturally falls to him to enforce. [Jacksonville v. Akers, 11 111., Aj^p. (11 Brad,), 393; Roherson v. Troutt, 17 111., App. (17 Brad.), 386.] All rules should be formally considered and adopted by the board and made a matter of record. They should also be published to the school. But an informal assent to rules by the board, and a failure to record them will not invalidate them. [Russell v. Lynnfleld, 116 Mass., 365.] If, however, the board has not made any rules, or has not made all that are necessary, the teacher may make rules or may exercise that authority which of right belongs to his position. "While the principal or teacher in charge of a public school is subordinate to the school board or board of education of his district or city, and must enforce rules and regulations adopted by the board for the government of the school, and execute all its lawful orders in that behalf, he does not derive all his power and authority in the school and over his pupils from the affirmative action of the board. He stands for the time being in loco parentis to his pupils, and, because of that relation, he must necessarily exercise authority over them in many things SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 121 concerning which the board may have remained silent," [State V. Burton, 45 Wis., 150; Sheehan v. SturgeB, 53 Conn., 481.] But it is not necessary that the school board or the teacher endeavor to provide a rule to fit every possible case of wrong doing in school. "In the school, as in the family, there exist on the part of the pupil the obligations of obedience to lawful commands, subor- dination, civil deportment, respect for the rights of other pupils,, and fidelity to duty. These obligations are inherent in any- proper school system, and constitute, so to speak, the common Jaw of the school. Every pupil is presumed to know this law, and is subject to it whether it has or has not been re-enacted by the district board in the form of written rules and regula- tions. Indeed, it would seem impossible to frame rales which would cover all cases of insubordination and all acts of vicious tendency which the teacher is liable to encounter daily and hourly." [State v. Burton, 45 Wis., 150.] 2. Directors may not surrender Control to Others. No school can be conducted according to law that is not under the ex- clusive supervision of the directors. Consequently, no select- school, that is not under their jurisdiction, and not open alike to all the children in the district, is entitled to any of the school fund. Nor can school directors make any compromise with the trustees of a seminary, academy, or any private in- stitution, by which they agree to surrender any part of their legal jurisdiction and control of the school. It is a funda- mental requirement of the school law, that all schools estab- lished under it shall be subject to the exclusive direction and! control of a regularly elected board of school directors, and be perfectly free to all the children of lawful age in the district. No board of directors can surrender the management of their school to any protestant clergyman, or catholic priest, or to any other person or persons whatever. They would be per- sonally liable for so doing, and the school fund would be for- feited for the whole time that the school was controlled by- any persons besides the directors. A teacher who is interfered! with or dictated to in respect to the management of his. school, by any persons besides the directors, may regard such persons as intruders, and if necessary eject them from his premises. A school ceases to be a public school in the eye of the law, the moment that the control of it is assumed by any person or persons whatever except the directors. It may seem unnecessary to state these obvious truths, but instances 122 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. of flagrant disregard of them have occurred in the- state, and this exposition of the law in the case is made for the informa- tion and guidance of all concerned. 3. Extent of the Poiver to make Rules. In Rulison v. Post, 79 111., 567, the supreme court thus defines the power given school directors to make rules for the management and govern- ment of schools : "In the performance of their duty in carrying the law into effect, the directors may prescribe certain rules and regula- tions for the government of the schools in their district, and enforce them. They may, no doubt, classify the scholars, regulate their studies and their deportment, the hours to be taught, besides the performance of other duties necessary to promote the success and secure the well-being of such schools. But all such rules and regulations must be reasonable, and calculated to promote the objects of the law — the conferring of such an education upon all, free of charge. The law having conferred upon each child of proper age the right to be taught the enumerated branches, any rule or regulation which, by its enforcement, v/ould tend to hinder or deprive the child of this right can not be sustained. All rules must be adapted to the promotion and accomplishment of this great and paramount object of the law." 4. Test of the Legality of Rules. The test questions to be •applied to all proposed rules are, first, are they "reasonable"? i. e., do they require the pupils to do that which they may properly do? and, second, are they "calculated to promote the objects of the law" in providing for the common school ■education of the children of the state ? 5. Decisions of the Courts u-pon certain Rules. "What are reasonable rules is a question of law, and we do not hesitate to declare that a rule that would bar the doors of the school house against little children who had come from so great a distance (one and one-half miles) in the cold winter, for no other reason than that they were a few minutes tardy, is un- reasonable and therefore unlawful. In its practical operation it amounts to little less than wanton cruelty." [Thompson v. Beaver, 63 111., 353.] In this case, however, the rule is condemned because of the evil which might follow its enforcement, and not because the object aimed at, prompt attendance, is not desirable ; for in another case the court says that school boards "may undoubt- edly require that there shall be prompt attendance, diligence in study and proper deportment." [Trustees of Schools v. The People,' 81 111., 303.] SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 123 Among the rules established by the board in a certain dis- trict was this : "All pupils will be required to bring written excuses from their parents to teachers for absence, and such excuses must be satisfactory and reasonable, otherwise they will not be granted." The court commented upon the rule as follows : "The rule in question is not a hard or harsh one. It does not of itself indicate any sinister or malevolent purpose, or wicked force, on the part of the directors. It does not trench upon the rights or dignity of any one. We instantly and properly repel any encroachment upon our rights as citizens. We have a proper pride and ambition in maintaining these rights under any and all circumstances. But I am utterly unable to understand how this simple rule or regulation, re- quiring the pupil in certain cases to bring a written excuse from its parents to the teacher, is an attack upon, or an abridgment of, our inalienable rights as citizens of this free country." [Churchill v. Feivkes, 13 111. App. (13 Brad.), 520.] In Wisconsin it has been held that pupils may not be re- quired to bring in fuel. "While from the necessity of the case much discretion must be left to these boards as to the nature of the rules which are prescribed, yet it can not fairly be claimed that the boards are uncontrolled in the exercise of their discretion and judgment npon the subject. The rules and regulations made must be reasonable and proper, or, in the language of the statute, 'needful,' for the government, good order and efhciency of the schools — such as will best advance the pupils in their studies, tend to their education and mental improvement, and promote their interest and wellfare. But the rules and regulations must relate to these objects. The boards are not at liberty to adopt rules relating to other subjects according to their humor and fancy, and make a disobedience of such a rule by a pupil <;ause his suspension or expulsion. We therefore think the Tule or regulation requiring the pupil to bring up wood for use in the school-room was one which the board had no right to make and enforce." [State v. Board of Education, 63 Wis., 234.] In Iowa it has been held that a pupil may not be punished for an accidental and unintentional injury to school property and a failure to pay for the same. "By an accident, and without any evil purpose, he broke a window-glass. The rule requires him to pay the damage done, and in default thereof authorizes the directors to exclude him from the school. We may admit that he ought to pay the damages and is liable therefor. But we think his omis- sion to perform this duty cannot be punished by his expulsion 124 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. from the school. The state does not deprive its citizens of their property, or their liberty, or of any rights, except as a punishment for a crime. It would be very harsh aud obviously unjust to deprive a child of education for the reason that through accident and without intention of wrong he destroyed property of the school district. Doubtless a child may be expelled from school as a punishment for breach of disci- pline or for offenses against good morals, but not for inno- cent acts. "In this case the plaintiff was expelled, not because he broke the glass, but because he did not pay the damage sustained by the breaking. His default in this respect was no breach of good order or good morals. The rule requiring him to make payment is not intended to secure good order, but to enforce an obhgation to pay a sum of money. "We are clearly of opinion that the directors have no author- ity to promulgate or enforce such a rule." [Perkins v. Direct- ors, 56 la., 479.] 6. Rules ivith reference to the Conduct of Pupils out of School Hours and away from School Premises. In Missouri it was held that a rule may be made by the school board forbidding pupils from fighting and using profane language on the way to and from school, and that, for a violation of such rule, a pupil may be punished. [Deskins v. Gose, 85 Mo., 4S5.] In some states decisions have been made which give the school author- ities some control over pupils and their conduct after they have been home from school. [Lander v. Seaver, 32 Vt., 120; Shu- man V. Charlestown, 8 Cush., 160.] But control of pupils when they are not on the school premises may be assumed for the sole purpose of protecting and promoting the welfare of the school. Cognizance may be taken, therefore, of such acts only as directly affect harmfully the discipline and teaching of the school. "It is not misbehavior generally or towards other persons, or even towards the master in matters in no way connected with or affecting the school. For as to such misconduct, com- mitted by the child after his return home from school, we think the parents, and they alone, have the power of punish- ment. The misbehavior must not have merely a remote and indirect tendency to injure the school. All improper conduct or language may perhaps have, by influence and example, a remote tendency of that kind. Bat the tendency of the acts so done out of the teacher's supervision, for which he may punish, must be direct and immediate in their bearing upon the welfare of the school, or the authority of the master and the respect due to him. SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 125 "Acts done to injure or deface the school-room, to destroy the books of scholars, or the books or apparatus for instruc- tion, or the instruments of punishment of the master ; language "used to other scholars to stir up disorder and insubordination, or to heap odium and disgrace upon the master; writings and pictures placed so as to suggest evil and corrupt language, images, and thoughts to the youth who frequent the school — all such or singular acts tend directly to impair the useful- ness of the school, the welfare of the scholars, and the authority of the master. By common consent and by the uniform custom in our New England schools, the master has always been deemed to have the right to punish such offences. • Such power is essential to the preservation of • order, decency, decorum, and good government in schools." [Lander v. Seaver, 32 Vt., 114.] To protect the peace and property of the neighborhood is the duty of the municipality and the state, not of the school authorities. Besides, for obvious reasons, the teacher can not readily direct and control the conduct of pupils when they are beyond his personal supervision, and, hence, the teacher and the school board should take upon themselves no more responsibility for the conduct of pupils when beyond their immediate jurisdiction than a due regard for the efficiency of the school demands. They should in no case usurp or in- terfere with the authority of parents and guardians to whose care and custody children are remitted when they are dismissed from school. [Dritt v. Snodgrass, 66 Mo., 286.] 7. Tobacco in School. The school directors may make and enforce a rule forbiddiug the use of tobacco, in any form, in any school room or in any part of the school building. 8. The Bible and Religious Exercises in Schools. It is of much importance that teachers, school officers and parents should have clear and well-defined views as to the use of the Bible and the practice of religious observances in the public schools. It should never be forgotten that the principles governing those concerned in public schools, established and maintained by the state, are, or may be, quite unlike those applicable to all other kinds of schools and institutions of learning in respect to the matters now under advisement. Private schools and institutions may be conducted in accordance with the opinions and wishes of their founders and teachers, or of the corpora- tions controlling them; public schools must be conducted in 126 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. harmony with the letter and spirit of the constitutions and laws of the respective states in which they are established. Hence the importance of defining as clearly as possible the boundaries within which the teachers and boards of control of the public schools may legitimately act — the criteria by which the lawfulness or unlawfulness, the propriety or impropriety, of particular rules and regulations and practices touching the matter in hand may be determined. In the first article of the amendments to the constitution of the United States, it is declared that "Congress shall make na laws respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." It would seem to follow from this, that any state may estab- lish a religion, and cause the same to be taught in its schools ; for if congress can make no law respecting the establishment of religion, it can make no law prohibiting the establishment of it. It is entirely within the power of the several states,, therefore, to establish a religion for themselves or not, just as they may deem proper. It follows, also, that a state may es- tablish a religious test for teachers ; and this may be done for teachers of private as well as of public schools. Whether any- thing of this kind has been done is a question which can be answered only after a careful examination of the laws of the several states. While the article just quoted from the funda- mental law of the nation was a grand principle to incorporate in the constitution of a great country, yet it must be borne in mind that its effect is, to leave to the people of each state the power to make any law they may deem expedient, "re- specting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Were it not for this reserved power, the law as to religion in schools could be explained in five minutes. Now, however, the explanation is not so easy. If the subject of religious or devotional exercises in the pub- lic schools were treated of or defined in the school laws of the state, we might assume that those laws were not inconsistent with the organic law of the commonwealth, and confine our- selves to a simple examination and interpretation of the intent and meaning of the statutes themselves. But the subject under advisement is not mentioned or in any manner referred to in the school laws of this state. But all the laws of a state SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 127 must be made and executed in accordance with the letter and spirit of its constitution, for that is the fundamental law, and contains the principles upon which the government of the state is founded. The subject in hand must, therefore, be viewed, and the boundaries of right and wrong determined in the light of the principles en*unciated in the organic law of the state. What are those principles ? In the second article of the con- stitution of Illinois it is asserted and declared as follows: "Section 3. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination, shall forever be guaranteed ; and no person shall be denied any civil or political right, privilege or capacity, on account of his religious opinions ; * * * * no person shall be required to attend or support any ministry or place of worship against his con- sent, nor shall any preference be given by law to any religious denomination or mode of worship." Eelying upon the principles of religious liberty, and the rights of conscience, thus broadly and grandly promulgated in the fundamental law of the state, the legislature has never deemed it expedient or necessary to prescribe or define in the school laws, what particular acts, rules, or regulations would be in accordance with the letter and spirit of the constitution and what would be inconsistent therewith ; but has preferred, wisely it is believed, to leave teachers and school officers to conduct the schools of the state in such a v/ay, and to adopt such measures in respect to the moral and religious improve- ment of the pupils as to them may seem best, subject to the conditions and requirements of the fundamental law. Here is a rule of action as definite as it is practicable to make it, and yet comprehensive and flexible, perfectly adapted to the circumstances and sentiments of every school com- munity. The constitution of the state neither requires nor forbids the reading of the Bible, or prayer, or any other form of religious or devotional exercise in schools, and the school lavi^s are entirely silent on the subject. The spirit of the con- stitution in this regard is permissive, not mandatory, and the same spirit should actuate and control the conduct of teachers and school authorities. While the largest freedom is granted to both, they are yet both amenable in their action to the par- amount rule "that no human authority can, in any case what- ever, control or interfere with the rights of conscience." Not even the legislature could require of teachers, directors or 128 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. parents, anything in conflict with that declaration, or, if such a law were enacted, it would certainly be declared void by the supreme court. Much less can a board of directors require of a teacher, either by prohibition or command, anything that he can not conscientiously do ; and a like restriction rests upon the teacher in his dealings with *his pupils and their parents — other requirements may be enforced, but into the domain of conscience, none may enter. Guided by these principles, there need be no doubt as to the proper course to pursue in any given case. Whatever is en- joined or forbidden, in respect to religious concernments, by directors or teachers, must be subject to the emphatic declar- ation of the organic law touching the inviolability of conscience. Hence, while it is most fit and commendable for a teacher to ■open his school by devoutly reading a brief portion of the Sacred Scriptures, and by humbly seeking the blessing of God in a few words of prayer, he may, nevertheless, decline to do so, if incompatible with the promptings of his conscience ; and for so declining he could not be discharged, or in any way molested, being warranted in his coarse by the fundamental law. Being a matter over which the directors have no author- itative control, they may signify their wishes to the teacher, but nothing more ; should they go further he may refuse to obey a command which they have no legal or moral right to enforce. And if, on the other hand, a teacher feels it to be his duty to read from the Bible, or offer prayer, at the opening of school, it is his privilege to do so, even if contrary to the wishes of the directors, and for so doing he can not be discharged or molested — it is a sacred personal right of which he cannot be deprived. And all of the scholars who choose, or whose parents approve, may be present and participate in the reading and worship. In the case, however, of such a conflict between the opinions and wishes of the teacher and directors, the lat- ter might, it is held, require that the moments of devotion be not taken from the regular school hours, but that the exercise be attended to either before school or after its close. The powers conferred upon directors, would seem to warrant their interference to the above extent, if they saw flt, but no further. It would remain for the teacher to judge in such a case, whether the interests of the school would best be subserved by insisting upon, or waiving his rights in the premises. SCHOOL LAWS AND DEfilSIONS. 129 The same principles apply to pupils, and to their parents or guardians; their rights of conscience must be equally re- spected. No scholar can be required to read the Bible in school, as a religious exercise, or to attend prayer, or partici- pate in any other form of worship or devotion, contrary to the expressed wishes of his parent or guardian. If objection is made on the ground of "conscience," it is a right with which "no human authority can, in any case whatever, in- terfere." For the same reason, the children of Protestants <;an not be compelled to read from the Douay, or Catholic, version of the Bible, if their parents or guardians object; nor <3an the children of Catholics be forced to read from the common Protestant version, against the wishes of their parents or guardians. It follows, of course, that no pupil of any com- mon or public school in this state, can be expelled, suspend- ed, or otherwise punished, for declining to read the Bible, or any particular version thereof, as a religious exercise ; or for declining to engage or participate in, or be present at, any formal act or service of religious worship or devotion, if in so declining he acts in accordance with the intelligent convictions of his own conscience, or in compliance with the expressed desire of his parent or guardian. For, the right of directors and teachers to inflict penalties for the non-observance of their rules, is conditioned upon the legality or allowableness of the rules themselves. A school regulation not warranted by law, and that is contrary to the letter and spirit of the constitu- tion, can not be enforced. What has been said in respect to the bearings of the organic law upon the reserved rights of school directors, teachers, pupils, parents and guardians, in religious concernments, applies also to the character of the instructions given by teachers, and to the text-books, etc., used in the schools. The spirit of the constitution, and the nature and objects of the public school, alike require that these should be free from whatever might justly be deemed offensive to the particular denominational or sectarian tenets of any portion of the com- munity. That which can not be done directly should not be done indirectly. Neither directors nor teachers can obtrude or force their private doctrinal opinions upon the pupils. On these points, too, our school laws are written in blank ; but if 130 SCHOOL LA.WS AND DECISIONS. the spirit of our fundamental law were embodied in statutory- form, it would doubtless adopt, substantially, the language of the school law of California, which asserts that "no books, tracts, papers, catechisms, or other publications of a sectarian or denominational character shall be used or distributed in any school, or shall be made a part of any school library ; neither shall any sectarian or denominational doctrine be taught therein." In respect to this whole matter, the voluntary principle is the only one that is either safe or warrantable. Probably not one school director, teacher, pupil, parent or guardian in a thousand, does or will object to the opening of school by reading from the Sacred Scriptures, with prayer, or some other simple and becoming religious exercise. But when ob- jection is conscientiously made to such acts and forms of worship in school, the opinions and wishes of the parents should be respected, and their children quietly excused from participating in the exercises. Such forbearance and charity is not only accordant with and required by the spirit of the- supreme law of the state, but is also infinitely more likely to soften prejudice, disarm opposition, and thus secure the end desired, than any attempt at coercive measures. A public school-room is not the proper forum for controversy in relig- ious matters, nor are schools or scholars ever benefited by such disputations. The history of such disputes in or about the public schools, whenever and wherever, they have taken place, is conclusive upon this point — it has ever been a history of strife and bitterness, from which manifold evils have result- ed, while no compensating advantages have been secured. This is an important subject. The endeavor has been tO' examine it carefully and impartially, and to define as clearly as possible the principles by which teachers and others should be governed in their practical dealings with this question. It is better that all concerned should know the law, and under- stand the limits within which it is their province to act in particular cases. The subject has been considered solely from an official stand-point, and in the light of constitutional and statute law, and the coiiclusiong reached are believed to be sound. Tlie object is not to deter teachers from reading the Scriptures and prayer in school, far from it, but simply to SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 131 state the grounds upon which the practice rests, and to indi- cate the line of duty when opposition is made. McCormick v, Burt, 95 111., 263, is sometimes quoted as authorizing a school board to compel pupils to pay attention to religious exercises at the beginning of school. But the supreme court in that case has not passed upon the rule under which the boy McCormick was suspended. The decision was simply that the school officers sued were not liable in damages, since the party complaining can have no action when such officers act in good faith and in the line of what they think is honestly their duty. 9. Enforcement of Mules. The law says that the board may enforce its rules, but is silent as to the means by which they may be enforced, except in providing for suspension and ex- pulsion in certain cases named. [See Note (e) heloiv], and no case relating to any other form of punishment in public schools has ever been carried to an appellate court or the supreme court in this state. But it is absolutely necessary that good order be maintained in the school and that the pupils obey promptly all rules and commands. Hence arises the right to coerce obedience by the use of reasonable means. The right to make rules, as we have seen, rests primarily, under the law, with the school board; so, too, in the school board is vested the power to enforce its rules. But the teacher represents the school board in the school room, and upon him necessarily falls the duty of governing the school and execut- ing the orders of the board; such power naturally belongs to his position. 10. Corporal Punishment — Some Decisions of the Courts. The following summary of cases will give an idea of what has been held with reference to corporal punishment in schools by courts of last resort in other states. "The right of the parent to keep the child in order and obe- dience is secured by the common law. He may lawfully cor- rect his child, being under age, in a reasonable manner, for this is for the benefit of his education. He may delegate, also, a part of his parental authority, during his life, to the tutor or schoolmaster of his child, who is then in loco parentis, and has such portion of the power of the parent committed to his charge — viz : that of restraint and correction — as may be neces- sary to answer the purpose for which he is employed. [1 Black. Com., 453, 454; 1 Hale's P. C, 473, 474.] 'The rights of parents [over their children] result from their duties. As they 132 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. are bound to maintain and educate their children, the law has given them the right to such authority ; and, in support of that authority, a right to the exercise of such discipline as may be requisite for, the discharge of their sacred trust.' 'The power allowed by law to the parent over the person of the child may be delegated to a tutor or instructor, the better to accomplish the purposes of education.' [2 Kent's Com., 169, 170.] Although the town school is instituted by the authority of the statute, the children are to be considered as put in charge of the instructor for the same purpose, and he clothed with the same power as when he is directly employed by the parents. The power of the parent to restrain and coerce obe- dience in children can not be doubted, and it has seldom or never been denied. The power delegated to the master by the parent must be accompanied for the time being with the same right, as incidental, or the object sought must fail of accom- plishment. "The practice, which has generally prevailed in our town schools since the settlement of the country, has been in accord- ance with the law thus expressed, and resort has been had to personal chastisement when milder means of restraint have been unavailing." [Stevens v. Fassett, 27 Me., 266.] "The law having elevated the teacher to the place of the parent, if he is still to sustain that sacred relation, it becomes him to be careful in the exercise of his authority, and not make his power a pretext for cruelty and oppression. [14 Johns R. 119.] Whenever he undertakes to exercise it, the cause must be sufficient, the instrument suitable to the purpose ; the manner and extent of the correction, the part of the person to which it is applied, the temper in which it is inflicted, all should be distinguished with the kindness, prudence and propriety which become the station." [Cooper v. McJunHn, 4 Ind., 291.] "The law, as we deem it to exist, is this : A schoolmaster has the right to inflict reasonable corporal punishment. He must exercise reasonable judgment and discretion in determin- ing when to punish, and to what extent. In determining upon what is a reasonable punishment various considerations must be regarded — the nature of the offence, the apparent motive and disposition of the offender, the influence of his example and conduct upon others, and the sex, age, size and strength of the pupil to be punished. Among reasonable persons much difference prevails as to the circumstances which will justify the infliction of punishment, and the extent to which it may properly be administered. On account of this difference of opinion, and the difficulty which exists in determining what is a reasonable punishment, and the advantage which the master has by being on the spot to know all the circumstances — the manner, looks, tone, gestures, and language of the offender (which are not always easily described) and thus to form a SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 133 correct opinion as to the necessity and extent of the punish- ment, considerable allowance should be made to the teacher by way of protecting him in the exercise of his discretion. Especially should he have this indulgence when he appears to have acted from good motives and not from anger or malice. Hence the teacher is not to be held liable on the ground of excess of punishment unless the punishment is clearly excess- ive, and would be so held in the general judgment of reason- able men. If the punishment be thus clearly excessive, then the master should be held liable for such excess, though he acted from good motives in inflicting the punishment, and in his own judgment considered it necessary and not excessive. But if there is any reasonable doubt whether the punishment was excessive, the master should have the benefit of the doubt." [Lander v. Seaver, 32 Yt., 114.] In State v. Mizner, 50 la., 145, the supreme court approved the following instructions: "In the absence of all proof, the law presumes that a father or school teacher punishes a child of the father or the pupil of the teacher for a reasonable cause and in a moderate and reasonable manner. But this presumption, like all other legal presumptions, may be rebutted by the proof." "The legal objects and purposes of punishment in schools are like the objects and purposes of the state in punishing the citizen. They are thieefold : First, the reformation and the highest good of the pupil ; second, the enforcement and main- tenance of correct discipline in school ; and third, as an ex- ample to like evil-doers. And in no case can the punishment be justifiable unless it is inflicted for some definite offence or offences which the pupil has committed, and the pupil is given to understand what he or she is being punished for. And if you find from the evidence that the punishment in this case was inflicted upon the prosecutrix without her knowing what she was being punished for, then the punishment was wrong- ful on the part of the defendant. Punishment inflicted when the reason of it is unknown to the punished, is subversive and not promotive of the true objects of punishment, and cannot be justified." It was also held that any punishment with a rod which left marks or welts on the person of the pupil for two months afterward, or much less time, was immoderate and excessive, and that the court would have been justified in so instructing the jury. In this case the pupil was punished by the teacher be- cause, acting under the direction of her father, she did not study Algebra or attend school at the hours fixed. The court held that such a violation of rules should be punished by sus- pension or expulsion and not by whipping. 134 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. "We hold, therefore, that it may be laid down as a general Tule, that teachers exceed the limits of their authority when they cause lasting mischief; but act within the limits of it when they inflict temporary pain. "Within the sphere of this authority the master is the judge when correction is required, and of the degree of correction necessary; and, like all others intrusted with a discretion, he can not be made personally responsible for error of judgment, but only for wickedness of purpose. "But the master may be punishable when he does not trans- cend the powers granted, if he grossly abuse them. If he use his authority as a cover for malice, and, under pretence of administering correction, gratify his own bad passions, the mask of the judge shall be taken off, and he will stand amen- able to justice as an individual not invested with judicial power." [State v. Pendergrass, 2 Dev. & Bat., 365.] "If, in inflicting punishment upon his pupil, he went beyond the limit of moderate castigation, and, either in the mode or degree of correction, was guilty of any unreasonable and dis- proportionate violence or force, he was clearly liable for such excess in a criminal prosecution, [1 Hawk. c. 60, § 23; Rus- sell on Crimes, (7th Amer. Ed.), 755; Bac. Ah. Assault and Battery, C] It is undoubtedly true that, in order to support an indictment for an assault and battery, it is necessary to show that it was committed ex intentione, and that if the criminal intent is wanting the offense is not made out. But this intent is always inferred from the unlawful act. The un- reasonable and excessive use of force on the person of another being proved, the wrongful intent is a necessary and legitimate conclusion in all cases where the act was designedly committed. It then becomes an assault and battery, because purposely in- flicted without justification or excuse. Whether, under all the facts, the punishment of the pupil is excessive, must be left to the jury." [Commonwealth v. Randall, 4 Gray, 36.] "In inflicting such punishment the teacher must exercise sound discretion and judgment, and must adapt it not only to the offense but to the offender. Horace Mann, a high author- ity in the matter of schools, says of corporal punishment : 'It should be reserved for baser faults. It is a coarse remedy, and should be employed upon the coarse sins of our animal nature, and, when employed at all, should be administered in strong doses.' Of course the teacher, in inflicting such pun- ishment, must not exceed the bounds of moderation. No pre- cise rule can be laid down as to what shall be considered ex- cessive or unreasonable punishment, [Reeve's Dam. Rel., 288.] Each case must depend upon its own circumstances. And we think it equally clear that he should also take into considera- tion the mental and moral qualities of the pupil, and, as indie- SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 135 :ative of these, his general behavior in school and his attitude towards his teacher become proper subjects of consideration. "We think, therefore, that the court acted properly in ad- mitting evidence of the prior and habitual misconduct of the plaintiff, and that it was perfectly proper for the defendant, in chastising him, to consider not merely the immediate offense which had called for the punishment, but the past offenses that aggravated the present one, and showed the plaintiff" to have been habitually refractory and disobedient. Nor was it necessary that the teacher should, at the time of inflicting the punishment, remind the pupil of his past and accumulating offenses. The pupil knew them well enough, without having them freshly brought to his notice." [Sheehan v. Sturges, 53 Conn., 481.] If a pupil who is of age attends school, she submits herself to all the rules of the school and to like discipline with those pupils who are under age. [State v. Mizner, 45 la., 248.] The same rule holds if the pupil is over twenty- one years of age and attends the school by consent of the directors. [Stevens v. Fassett, 27 Me., 266.] In Feck V. Smith, 41 Conn., 442, the judge held that a mem- ber of a school board may eject a pupil from the school house for insulting conduct towards him : "The defendant, being at the school house performing certain duties connected with the school, called the attention of the plaintiff to certain acts, not specially culpable in character, which he acknowledged he had committed. His bearing and manner were insolent and offensive, and the language in which he indulged was grossly profane. Such language, reprehensi- ble at all times, should not have been allowed to pass with impunity from a school boy of the older class, within the walls of a school house, in the presence and hearing of younger pu- pils. After being told to leave, he so conducted that it was proper to remove him, no unnecessary force being used to at- tain that object." "It may be proper to observe, however, that public senti- ment does not now tolerate such corporal punishment of pupils as was formerly thought permissible and even necessary." [1 Cooley's Blackstone, 453.] 11. Rule which should control the Teacher in inflicting Punish- ment. The opinions of the highest judicial tribunals and emi- nent jurists concur in respect to the propriety and necessity of granting. school teachers authority to inflict corporal punish- ment in certain cases, and of protecting them in the prudent and reasonable exercise of such authority either to promote the welfare of the child or the welfare of the whole school. 136 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. Teachers are, however, held to a just accountability for the abuse of the power conferred. The decisions cited relate ta punishments with the rod, ferule, etc., but the rule of discre- tion and accountability is the same for all other forms of punishment. Without doubt the best teachers do, as a general rule, use the rod the least, because they have a more perfect personal discipline, and command a wider range of mental and moral resource from which to draw in dealing with the way- ward and erring ; and because they have, by nature, the faculty of dealing easily and successfully with youth. It may be that if we all were wise enough, some other remedy might be found in every case, I can not say. But it is quite certain that, so far as we can judge of cause and effect, cases arise at one time or another in the experience of most teachers, when the timely and judicious infliction of corporal punishment seems both at the time and afterwards, the wisest and best thing that could be done. Certain it is, also, that castigation with the rod is often less cruel than sharp words, tones of irony, sar- casm or invective, and less humiliating and harmful than some of the substitutes therefor. 12. Liahilitt) of Directors and Teachers in Making and En- forcing Rules. "In the performance of the duties imposed by law upon school directors they must exercise judgment and dis- cretion. What rules and regulations will best promote the in- terests of the school under their immediate control, and what branches shall be taught and what text- books shall be used, are matters left to the determination of the directors and must be settled by them from the best lights they can obtain from any source, keeping always in view the highest good of the whole school. Good order can only be maintained by en- forcing discipline, and that power is largely committed to the directors. "In such cases the law seems to be well settled that there can be no action maintained against school officers when they act without malice. "The rule is certainly a reasonable one. A mere mistake in judgment, either as to their duties under the law or as to facts submitted to them, ought not to subject such officers to an action. They may judge wrongly, and so may a court or other tribunal, but the party complaining can have no action when such officers act in good faith and in the line of what they think is honestly their duty. Any other rule might work great hardship to honest men who, with the best of motives, have faithfully endeavored to perform the duties of these in- ferior offices. Although of the utmost importance to the pub- lic, no considerable emoluments are attached to these minor SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 137 offices, and the duties are usually performed by persons sin- cerely desiring to do good for their neighbors, without any expectation of personal gains, and it would be a very harsh rule that would subject such officers to an action for damages for every mistake they may make in the honest and faithful discharge of their official duties as they understand them. It is not enough to aver the action of such officers was erroneous, but it must be averred and proved that such action was taken in bad faith, either wantonly or maliciously. If, in the dis- charge of their official duties, such officers simply err, it is what other tribunals invested with discretionary powers are liable to do. [McCormick v, Burt, 95 111., 263 ; Churchill v. Feiukes, 13 111. App. (13 Brad.), 520.] But when directors and the teacher do not act within the scope of their authority, or are guilty of arbitrary, wanton or oppressive conduct, they render themselves liable personally. [RuUsoii V. Post, 79 III., 567; McCutchen v. Windsor, 55 Mo., 149.] 13. Visitatio7z of Schools by Directors. As to directors' powers in respect to visitation : "Should any scholar misbehave himself, or prove refractory or contumacious to the committee, while they are engaged in ex- amining the school, it is presumed they have authority to sus- pend, expel, or to punish on the spot, in the same way that the teacher may do in case of like misconduct committed against himself." [Horace Mann, Sec. Mass. Board of Education, 10th Rep., 183; State v. Williams, 27 Yt., 755; Peck v. Smith, 41 Conn., 442.] {d) 1. A Teacher mast he employed by the School Board. The board of directors as a corporate body must act in the employment of a teacher. [Directors v. Jennings, 10 111. App. (10 Brad.), 643.] 2. The Teacher must have a Certificate for the whole Term of the Contract. The employment will not be valid unless the teacher holds at the time of making a contract such a certifi- cate of qualifications as the law requires, good for the term of the contract. Getting a certificate subsequently will not make the contract valid. [Stevenson v. Directors, 87 111., 255 ; Davis V. Directors, 92 111., 293; Butler v. Haines, 79 Ind., 575.] Formerly it was essential to the validity of a contract that the teacher should actually exhibit his certificate to the direct- ors at the time of making the contract. Now it is essential that he have a certificate, as above ; but a failure to exhibit it to the directors does not invalidate the contract. —9 138 SCHOOL LA.WS AND DECISIONS. 3. The Provisions of the Law and Rides of the Board a Part of the Contract. Both the school board and the teacher are bound by the provisions of the law as to their respective duties, and the rules of the board may be made a part of the contract. For instance, the law requires the teacher to keep a register; it makes it the duty of the board to pay the teacher each month. A rule of the board may give it the power to assign the teacher to any school. [Jacksonville v. Akers, 11 111., App., (11 Brad.), 393; Roberson v, Troutt, 17 111., App., (17 Brad.), 386; Everett v. District, 30 Mich., 249.] 4. When is a Contract Complete ? A contract is not com- plete without the consent of both parties. A vote by a school board to employ a person to teach does not bind the board until it has been communicated to, and accepted by him. Up to the time of acceptance the board may reconsider its vote. In the same way a person offering to teach is not bound until the school board has accepted his offer. A contract may be completed by mailing a letter or sending a telegram of acceptance. [Haas v. Myers, 111 111., 421 ; Kal. Nov. Mfg. Co. V. Macalister, 40 Mich., 84; Pollock on Contracts, p. 8.] 5. Personal Services Contracted for — Assistant — Substitute. The contract with a teacher is for his own services. The school board must itself employ all teachers, and may not con- tract with a teacher whom it has employed to supply his own assistant or substitute. [Directors v. Hudson, 88 111., 563 ; State V. Williams, £9 Ohio, S., 161.] "A teacher doubtless, like a lawyer, surgeon, or physician, when he undertakes an employment, impliedly agrees that he will bestow upon the service a reasonable degree of learning, skill, and care. When he accepts an employment as teacher in any given school, he agrees by implication that he has the learning necessary to enable him to teach the branches that are to be taught therein, as well as that he has the capacity in a reasonable degree of imparting that learning to others. He agrees, also, that he will exercise a reasonable degree of care and diligence in the advancement of his pupils in their studies, in preserving harmony, order, and discipline in the school, and that he will himself conform as near as may be to such reasonable rules and regulations as may be established by competent authority for the government of the school. He also agrees, as we think, by a necessary implication, that while he continues in such employment his moral conduct shall be in all respects exemplary and beyond just reproach." , [Crawfordsville v. Hays, 42 Ind., 200.] SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 139 6. Contract with a Minor. A person who is a minor may contract to teach a school with the consent of his parent or guardian. [ Monaghayi v. District, 38 Wis., lOO.J If a minor contracts for himself with the consent of his parent, or when he has been "given his time" or left to "do for himself," his wages may be paid to him. A teacher who is a minor may abandon his contract and re- cover for the time he has taught. [Schouler on Domestic Rela- tions, § 561.] 7. Abandoning a Contract — Resignation. But a teacher who is of age, having agreed to teach for a definite term, cannot recover for services rendered if he quits before the close of the term. [Clark v. District, 29 Vt., 217.] The same rule applies to resignations : the teacher cannot resign at will. Parties to a contract are bound by its terms. 8. School closed by Directors. On the other hand, if the board of directors fails to do, or does anything which results in closing the school for any length of time during a school term, the teacher's pay goes on the same as if he had taught, provided he holds himself ready to comply with his contract and subject to the order of the board. This rule applies in cases where the board fails to have repairs made upon the school house by the time the term was to begin, according to the contract ; where the directors fail to furnish fuel in the winter season, etc. The most common case is the closing the school by the directors on account of the presence of some epidemic or contagious disease in the vicinity. [Deivey v. Dis- trict, 43 Mich., 4.80.] 9. Employment of Teacher for current Year — Not for the Next Year. Contracts with teachers for terms of school to begin after the annual school election, should not be made by the board prior to that election. But contracts may be made for terms beginning before, and continuing for a reasonable time after the election. For example, a contract made in ]\lareh for a term to begin the first of IMay or the first of September, is not lawful ; but a contract made in June for a term of nine or ten months, beginning September first, is lawful ; so, too, when it is desired to have a summer term of two or three months begin April first, such a contract will be valid. [Stevenson v. Directors, 87 111., 255; Davis v. Directors, 92 111., 293.] 140 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 10. No Contract between Teacher and Pupil. There is no con- tract between a teacher and his pupil such as to give the pupil a right of action against the teacher for not hearing his les- sons. The teacher contracts with the school board alone. [Stuckey v. Churchman, 2 111., App. (2 Brad.), 584; Spear v. Cmn- mings, 23 Pick., 224.] 11. Teachers Amenable to Directors only. Teachers are answerable to the directors only, for their conduct while in the- employ of the board. They must faithfully carry out the wishes and instructions of the directors in all matters pertain- ing to the management and discipline of the school, text-books used, branches taught, and whatever relates to the general policy of the school ; and for so doing they cannot be called to an account by the inhabitants of the district, but are amen- able only to the board. 12. Teachers not required to make Fires, Sweep, etc. The teacher may not be required to do janitor work unless he has agreed so to do in making his contract with the board of di- rectors. Such services do not form a part of his duty as a teacher. [See, also, Sec. 39, 7iote (b), 8 and 9.] But he may properly be required to exercise a due care and supervision over the school premises, furniture, apparatus and library ; for this is clearly stated in section fifty-two of the law, and in the directors' certificate attached to the schedule in section fifty- three of the law. 13. Written Contracts. School boards and teachers should make written contracts. Considerations of ordinary business prudence should prompt them to do this. Neglect of this pre- caution has led to much mutual misunderstanding and annoy- ance, and often resulted in the loss of a part, or even the whole of the wages due. It is in all respects better for both parties that such contracts should be made, of which each party should retain a copy. All of the points about which differences would be likely to arise, such as the amount of salary, length of time,, etc, should be plainly set forth in such agreements. The lan- guage of the contract must express the exact intention of the parties ; for while the rule of the law is to give effect to the intention, yet if the language is unequivocal it will govern, although it fail to express the real intention of the parties. [Benjamin v. McConnell, 4 Gilman, 536.] SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 141 14. Effect of Revocation of Certificate. If a teacher's certifi- -cate is revoked while he is under contract to teach, the con- tract is made void by the revocation from the date thereof. 15. Directors Responsible, not the People. Directors are clothed with authority to appoint teachers, and regulate the internal affairs of the school in accordance with their own best judg- ment. It is presumed, of course, that in the exercise of this authority, they will act with due regard to the opinions and wishes of the people of the district, whose agents they are. But the directors, not the citizens at large, are legally account- able for the control and management of the school. When- ever, therefore, a difference of opinion arises between the di- rectors and citizens, in respect to the choice of a teacher, or any other question of school policy, the directors have full power to decide the points in controversy, and it is their duty to do so according to their own best judgment and discretion, amenable only to the provisions of the school law of the state, from which all their official powers are derived. 16. Dismissal of Teacher — Illinois Cases. The few cases in relation to the dismissal of teachers by school boards which have been before our supreme and appellate courts, have es- tablished these points: When a board of directors dismiss a teacher,they must be careful to see that every essential reason therefor is spread upon the record ; for while failure to specify, in the record, any reasons for the order of dismissal is not conclusive upon the teacher, leaving the directors to prove the facts they allege in the order, precisely as if it had not been made, it is, nevertheless, binding upon the directors, and estops them from showing any other or different causes. [Neville v. Directors, 36 111., 71.] The possession by a teacher of a proper certificate of quali- iication is 2^fima facie evidence of competency, and directors in dismissing such a teacher for incompetency assume the burden of proving their charge. [Ibid.] In considering the grounds upon which a teacher may be discharged for incompetency or neglect of duty, it is held that the law does not require the highest possible qualifications, or the possession of professional talents equal to the most eminent and successful teachers, but only fair attainments and ability, and the usual diligence and application to the dis- charge of his duties, to fulfill his contract. [Ibid.] 142 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. A.n illegal discharge entitles the teacher to recover damages. [IbicL] A discharge makes it impossible for a teacher to keep a schedule subsequent thereto ; hence in suing for wages for the time he was engaged to teach, but from which he was barred by a discharge without cause, he need not aver that he kept a schedule in accordance with the provisions of the statute. [Directors v. Reddick, 77 111., 628.] If a teacher, without the consent and against the order of the board, leave his school to a substitute, he may be dis- missed even though it be shown that the substitute was com- petent. [Directors v. Hudson, 88 111., 563.] Failure to comply with and enforce reasonable rules is a sufficient ground for the dismissal of a teacher, whether the failure result from negligence or from positive refusal. [Roher- son V. Troutt, 17 111. App. (17 Brad.), 386.] In a case in which the directors are sustained in annulling a contract with a teacher, before he began teaching, on a charge of immorality, the court says : "Ability to teach the branches prescribed does not alone qualify a person to teach our youth. In addition thereto, they should be persons who, for their known virtue and morality, are fitted to be trusted with the dearest treasures of the father and mother — the person and mind of their child. They should be entitled to and receive the entire confidence of the patron and pupil. If suspicion of vice or immorality be once enter- tained against a teacher, his influence for good is gone. The parents become distrustful, the pupils contemptuous, and the school discipline essential to success is at an end." [Tingley V. Vaughn, 17 ID. App. (17 Brad.), 347.] 17. Mode of Dismissal. The board does not sit as a court when it is considering the question of discharging a teacher; and so, while it is bound to treat the teacher fairly, there need be no formal summons, and no particular order of hear- ing the case as in a court. [People v. Mays, 117 111., 257; District v. McCoy, 30 Kas., 268.] (e) 1. Assignment of Pupils to Schools. In districts where there are two or more school houses, the directors have full power to prescribe and determine to which house each pupil of the district shall be permitted to go. It is a matter clearly within the official jurisdiction and control of the directors, and for their action in the premises they can not be called to ac- SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 143 count, except for wanton abuse of the powers conferred upon them by law. But see note (b), 6, above. 2. Branches of Study. The last sentence of Sec. 50 says : "Every school established under the provisions of this act shall be for the instruction in the branches of education prescribed in the qualifications for teachers, and in such other branches including vocal music and drawing, as the directors or the voters of the district, at the annual election of directors, may prescribe." This and the clause of Sec. 48, "they shall direct what branches of study shall be taught" must be construed together. The purpose of the law is that in every school dis- trict every school child, as he becomes fitted therefor, shall have the privilege of receiving instruction in the several branches named in Sec. 50, in the qualifications for a teacher's certificate of the first grade. This alone will satisfy the law; neither the directors, the teacher nor the people can exclude any branches specified in the act. 3. School Board to make a Course of Study — To classify Pupils. The power of the school board in the premises is, then, to determine the order in which the studies required to be taught shall be taken up, what time shall be given to each, and, if it be impracticable or undesirable to have all the branches taught in one term, as it may well be in a country school, to determine also what branches shall not be taught for the term. In a word,, the school board of each school should arrange a course of study so that each branch may come in its natural order, and so that every pupil may have the opportunity afforded to pursue them all during his school years. If other higher branches are added to the course, each must be given its appropriate place and time. The board may classify the pupils with regard to the branches of study they are respectively pursuing, and with regard to proficiency or degree of advancement in the same branches, 4. Choice of Studies by Pupils. The rights of pupils in re- gard to selecting studies, as determined in this state, may be presented thus : (1) Pupils can study no branch which is not in the course prescribed by the directors. (2) Pupils can study no branch of such prescribed course for which they are not prepared ; of which preparation the teachers and directors shall ]udge. 144 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. (3) Pupils shall study the particular branches of the pre- scribed course which the teachers, with consent of the directors, shall direct, unless honest objection is made by the parents, (4) If objection is made in good faith, parents shall be allowed to select from the particular branches of the prescribed course for which their children are fitted, those which they wish them to study; and for the exercise of such right of choice the children shall not be liable to suspension or ex- pulsion. If a pupil desiring admission to the high school is qualified to pursue every branch of study which he wishes to pursue, he may not be refused admission, because he cannot pass the required entrance examination in some branch in no manner connected with those he wishes to study. [State Superintendent Bateman's Report, 1873-4, 33; Rulison v. Post, 79 111., 567; Trustees v. People, 87 111., 303; Morrow v. Wood, 35 Wis., 59.], 5. Effect of " Compidsory" Law. The foregoing decisions were rendered before the passage of our ''compulsory education" law, Sec. 101 ; and they must, doubtless, be modified so as not, in any particular case, to defeat that law. 6. Declamation and Composition. In addition to the regular course of study which it is the duty of every board of directors to prescribe, there are certain general exercises in which it is customary to require the more advanced pupils in public schools to participate. Among such general school ex- ercises may be mentioned the writing of "compositions," the recitation or declamation cf short pieces of prose or poetry. That boards of directors, acting as they believe for the best interests of the schools, may, in their discretion, require pupils to engage and take part in such exercises, can hardly admit 'Of a doubt. And if this is so, if the right is conceded, the ■authority to enforce obedience, by all lawful means, must also 1)6 conceded. It is therefore held that when such general ex- ercises as composition-writing, declamation, etc., are enjoined, all the pupils included in the requirement must comply with the regulations made and established in respect thereto, unless duly excused therefrom. It is further held that pupils cannot be excused from such exercises, whether at their own request or that of their parents or guardians, without the consent of the board. The case in hand does not fall within the scope of the principles laid down SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 145 above, nor can the qualified right of choice in studies there granted, be plead in justification of refusal to comply with the regulations of the board in regard to declamation and compo- sition-writing. Nor is this a distinction without a difference, as might at first view appear; because a regular daily study, and a brief general exercise, occurring only at intervals of from one to four weeks, are very different things — so different that the considerations applicable to the one do not apply to the other at all. 7. Uniformity of Text-Books. By "uniformity of text-books" is meant that the pupils of the same grade or class who are pursuing the same study must all have for that study books which are alike. That is, pupils in the first-reader class must have the same First Eeader ; and pupils in the fifth-reader class must have the same Fifth Eeader. But it is not required that the First Pteader and the Fifth Eeader used shall belong to the same series. One may be from one publishing house, und the other from another. And the law must be understood in the same way in regard to each of the other branches. 8. Changes of Text-Books— Penalty. Directors who, in vio- lation of the law, do permit text-books to be changed oftener than once in four years are liable, for their failure to perform their duty under the law, to the penalty of twenty-five dollars named for such failure in Sec. 76. 9. Purchasing Text Books. Directors are not given the power to purchase with school funds the regularly adopted text-books for the use of all the children of the district ; and books for such use may not be purchased under the pretence of a purchase of books for the school library. The only power the directors have in this regard is to purchase books for children whose parents are not able to buy books for them. 10. Suspension and Expulsion — Ulinois Cases. Upon the power given school boards to suspend or expel pupils, we Tiave some instructive decisions by the courts. A pupil having declined to study book-keeping because her parents objected, was expelled, and somewhat forcibly removed from the build- ing by the teacher, acting in accordance with the order of ihe directors. She instituted an action of tresspass against "the directors and the teacher, and was awarded $130 damages 146 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISONS. in the circuit court. The supreme court af&rmed the judg- ment, holding as follows : "The law having conferred upon each child of proper age the right to be taught the enumerated branches, any rule or regulation which, by its enforcement, would tend to hinder or deprive the child of this right can not be sustained. All rules must be adapted to the promotion and accomplishment of this great and paramount purpose of the law. "The law, for the purpose of preserving the school and promoting its usefulness, has empowered the directors to sus- pend or expel scholars, but only for disobedient, refractory, or incorrigibly bad conduct. It is by the commission of one of these acts, alone, that the pupil can forfeit his right to the privileges of the school ; and this forfeiture can only be en- forced, and the right lost, after all other reasonable means have failed. Nor is the suspension or expulsion designed merely as a punishment of the child, but principally as a means of preserving order and the proper government of the school. ***** The directors had no power to expel appellee from the school and its privileges and benefits, be- cause she, under the direction of her parents, refused to study book-keeping, as it is not one of the branches enumerated in the statute, and is one her parents had the option to have taught her, as the directors had provided that it should be taught in the school ; and the directors having no such power, they could not lawfully expel appellee from the benefits and privileges of the school, for a refusal to comply with this re- quirement, and when they did so with force, it constituted a trespass. What they did by the teacher, they did by them- selves, according to a familiar maxim of the law. Nor could the teacher justify under the authority of the directors, as they could not, under the law, authorize him to perform an illegal act, as this was, and having committed the trespass, they are liable to respond in damages." [Pmlison v. Post, 79 111., 567.] A pupil having refused, under the direction of her father, to bring a written statement explaning her tardiness, was sus- pended and removed from the room without unnecessary force. The rule requiring such statement was as follows : "Any pupil v»'ho shall be absent or tardy shall be required (the next time he or she comes to school from home after such absence or tardiness) to present to the teacher a written excuse or statement from his or her parent or guardian, showing to the satisfaction of the teacher that such absence or tardiness was caused or occurred with the knowledge or consent of the parent or guardian, and also showing the length of time such pupil was so detained, or permitted to be absent by the parent or guardian." SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 147 The pupil instituted a suit in trespass against the school board and the superintendent, Hon. James Steele, sitting as circuit judge at Charleston, gave the jury the following among other instructions : (1) "The directors of a school district are authorized by law to adopt and enforce all necessary rules and regulations for the management and government of the school or schools with- in their district, and to suspend or expel pupils from such schools for disobedient conduct ; and, while it is true that the law secures to every child, of proper age, the right to attend and receive instruction at our public schools, yet that right must be so exercised, by each particular child, as not to inter- fere with the full enjoyment of the same right by every other child. No child can be said to have an exclusive right to attend our public schools, but all children, of proper age, have a common right to attend them, subject, however, to such necessary rules and regulations as the directors of such school may see fit to make ; and if the parents of any particular child see fit to make rules and regulations for such child which shall conflict with the necessary rules and regulations made by the directors for the government of the school where such child has a right to attend, then the necessary rules and regulations, so made by the directors, must govern; and if such child, while in attendance upon school, persists in obeying the con- flicting rules so made by the parents, and thereby disobeying the rules so made by the directors, the latter have the right either to suspend or expel such child from the school. (2) "It is true that parents have a paramount right to con- trol their children, and to make such rules for their govern- ment as they may deem necessary; but if parents desire their children to enjoy the benefits of our public schools, they should not make such rules for the government of their children as will compel the children to disobey the necessary rules and regula- tions made by the directors of the school where such children have the right to attend. (3) "If a rule made by a board of directors js a reasonable one, and is calculated to improve the schools, and secure punctuality and promptness in the attendance of the pupils, then the directors are exercising their lawful powers in making such a rule, and they have the right to compel obedience to such rule, by all pupils attending the schools in their district, and to suspend or expel any pupil who may refuse to obey such rules, provided such suspension may, in their judgment, be necessary for the welfare of the schools under their control. (4) "If a board of directors, in the lawful exercise of powers conferred by law, expel a pupil from their school, and the scholar so expelled refuses to leave the school room, and per- sists in defying and disregarding the just and legal authority of the board, such pupil may be ejected, by force, from the 148 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. school, and it makes no difference whether this defiance and disregard of the authority of the board arises from the pupil's own willfulness and stubbornness, or from orders or commands given to such pupil by his or her parents. (6) "Before the jury can find for the plaintiff, they must find, by a preponderance of evidence, that either the said plain- tiff was not tardy in her attendance upon school, or that the said rule concerning tardiness was unnecessary ■ * * * * ^(^^ w * * * * ^^^^T^ j-Y^Q j^jyy. ^y.Q instructed, that the fact that the parents of said Drusie were either ignorant of the existence of such rule, or refused to furnish her with a written statement or excuse required by such rule, can furnish no excuse to said Drusie for disobeying or disregarding it ; for, if she knew of the rule, it was her duty to inform her parents of it, and it was then the duty of the parents to enable the child to comply with the rule, by furnishing for her the excuse or statement required of them." The jury found for the school board. [Illinois Teacher, 1868, p. 28.] In Churchill v. Fewkes, 13 111., App. (13 Brad.), 520, the court approved a similar rule, and reversed a verdict for the pupil. A pupil, upon returning to school after an absence, brought the following written excuse to her teacher : "Miss Garrett will please excuse Mary's absence for the past two weeks, as she was visiting the St. Louis fair with my consent." "Pittsfield, III., Oct. 19, 1874." "J. H. Ledlie." The principal refused to receive the excuse as sufficient, and suspended the pupil. Hon. C. L. Higbee, sitting as circuit judge, granted a writ of mandamus against the school board, directing them to admit the child to the school. The judgment was against the right of the board to make and enforce such a rule, since absence was not a sufficient cause under the statute for suspension. The rule was as follows : "Every pupil who shall be absent six half days in four consecutive weeks, without an execuse from the parents or guardian satisfying the teacher that such absence was caused by his own sickness, or by sickness in the family, or to avoid a serious and imprudent exposure of health, shall forfeit his seat in the school. No pupil thus suspended shall be returned to school till the parents or guardian has given satisfactory assurance that the pupil will be punctual in the future, aiid obtamed permission from the principal to return, [Monthly Western Jurist, Aug., 1875, p. 238.] SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 149 11. Expulsion Continues How Long ? A pupil having been expelled sometime during a term of school ending Jan. 12, 1887, presented herself at the beginning of the next term, Jan. 13th, seeking admission, and being refused, Hon. Jesse J. Phillips, sitting as circuit judge at Vandalia, granted a writ of mandamus against the school board requiring them to admit her, on the ground that such expulsion could extend only to the close of the term ending January 12th. It would be going too far to infer from this case a general rule, to the effect that expulsion would always terminate at the end of the school term. But, since expulsion is an ex- ceedingly harsh remedy, and since there should be an end of punishment, it is not to be expected that the courts will sus- tain as reasonable the making an order for expulsion perpetual, regardless of whether the pupil has or has not so far reformed that he may be readmitted without harm to the school; and of whether he has or has not been punished sufficiently for his offence by being deprived of the privileges of the school for a time. 12. Suspension and Expulsion a Last Resort. It is plain from these cases that, while school boards may compel obedience and punish by suspension any obstinate infraction of reasonable rules which they have established, recourse should be had to suspension and expulsion from school for grave and aggravated offenses only. 13. Exclusion in Certain Cases. Directors may and should exclude from school, for the time being, pupils infected with offensive or contagious diseases. Not for any fault or wrong on their part, but simply because their presence under the circumstances is incompatible with the safety and comfort of others. Their personal rights in the common school are for the time in abeyance — they must be surrendered till they can again be exercised without infringing the equal rights of others. The right to enjoy the benefit of common schools, established for all the inhabitants, is a common, not an exclusive per- sonal right, and hence, like all other common rights, it must be exercised under such limitations and restrictions, that it shall not interfere with the equal and coextensive rights of others. [Spear v. Cummings, 23 Pick., 224,] If the moral depravity of a child is so great that, though his deportment in school and on the school premises may be 150 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. good, his example is dangerous to the purity of the school, the school board has power to exclude him. [Sherman v. Charles- toivn, 8 Cushing, 160.] 14. Who may suspend and expel. The power to suspend and expel rests primarily with the school board. The teacher should act in these matters by their direction, unless, it may be, in a case requiring prompt action ; and even then the teacher had better suspend temporarily and refer the case to the directors. [State V. Burton, 45 Wis., 150.] 15. Personal Liability therefor. Notwithstanding the pro- vision of the law, "no action shall lie against them for such expulsion or suspension," as we have seen in Ridison v. Post, cited above, both the school board and the teacher were held in damages for suspension under a rule declared to be unrea- sonable and unlawful. But in this case the court evidently regarded the action of the board and the teacher as willfully and maliciously wrong; for in McCormick v. Burt, [see note (c)], the court held that, there being no charge nor proof that the directors had acted wantonly or maliciously, they could not be held liable in damages even if they had erred in judgment. 16. School Day. Custom has made six hours a school day, and this should govern except as provided in the statute for children under twelve years, for whom the time in school may be cut down to four hours daily. Permitting the day to be shortened to four hours, impliedly prohibits shortening it to less than four hours. School boards have some discretion in regard to the time of opening and closing school, but are limited in the matter by the fitness of things and general custom. (/) 1. Vote of People upon School Questions. For a discus- sion of the various questions relating to the forms of notices, of elections, manner of conducting them, rights of voters, duties of judges, form of ballots, etc., see notes (a) and (6), Sec. 25; note (a), Sec. 27; Sec. 28; note (i), Sec. 33; note (a), Sec. 42. See also Sec. 126 on Elections in districts, in ivhole or in part, in cities, towns and villages ivhich have adopted the election law of June 19— July 1, 1885. 2. Notices — Ballots. When one of these special questions is to be voted upon, the notice becomes of great importance. The directors only may call such an election. The question or questions submitted must be distinctly stated in the notice. See note (a). Sec. 42. SCHOOL L^WS AND DECISIONS. 151 3. Blank Ballots. Where an election is held to vote on sev- eral designated propositions, and some of the ballots are blank in respect to one or more of said propositions, it is held that said bhink ballots should not be counted against said one or more propositions. Thus, if the propositions before the meet- ing are : to levy a tax to extend schools, and to enlarge the school house, (both propositions being voted on at the same time) — and if, fifteen voters being present, it is found that eight of the ballots are for the tax, and seven against — while but six ballots are for enlargement, and four against, five of the ballots, being silent or blank in respect to enlargement, both propositions are to be considered as carried, each having received a "majority of all the votes cast" as required by the law. 4. Tie Vote. If a vote upon a special proposition results in a tie, the proposition fails; it has not received a majority of the votes cast. 5. Vote to build and for School Site. A vote on the question of building a school house, may be had either before or after the site is chosen. The two questions are separate and inde- pendent of each other, and need not necessarily be both voted on at the same time. The people of a district may become satisfied that a new school house is required before they are prepared to decide upon the site, and they may at once vote on that question and levy a tax to build, leaving the choice of a site to be determined afterwards. The site may be selected at any time before the building is commenced. It is not only legal, but quite customary for a district to commence by tax- ation, the accumulation of a building fund, before the site is chosen, 6. May build on Old Site. If an election is called to vote on the question of building a new school house, nothing being said in the notices about a change of site, and a majority of the votes cast is in favor of building, the directors may law- fully proceed to build upon the old site. In such cases the presumption is that no change of site is desired by the people. 7. Questions may be voted on a Second Tune. An election for a school officer is final. But it is held that no such limitation necessarily applies to voting upon school questions such as ex- tending schools, borrowing money, choosing sites, etc. The only restriction is that ten days' notice must be given as re- quired by section forty-two. Take the case of a school site, for 152 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. nstance : One may be chosen without due deliberation — or in ignorance of important facts in regard to title, etc. ; or when but a very few voters were or could be present ; or it may afterwards be determined to divide or enlarge the district, ren- dering the site chosen inconvenient ; or another and more eli- gible site, and at less cost, may subsequently be offered; — these and many other equally strong reasons may make it plainly for the interest of a district to take different action, and to call another meeting for that purpose ; and it is held that it may legally be done, by the directors, upon proper notice as aforesaid. The inhabitants should have the largest liberty in such matters, compatible with the rights of others, and their rights in the premises are not restricted by either the letter or spirit of the law. If a former vote is to be thus in effect re- scinded, action must be taken before expenses are incurred by,, or rights accrue to, other parties under the original vote. And if another meeting is called, it must be by the directors, by whom all notices of district elections must be issued. The di- rectors have discretion in such cases — they can not be com- pelled to call another meeting. But they are clearly empowered to do so, and should not decline to issue the notices when it is the wish or request of a majority of the inhabitants of the district. If the different proposition submitted at the second election fails, the directors are bound to comply with the first vote. [Pennington v. Coe, 57 111., 118.] 8. Effect of a Vote to build a School House, or to purchase a Site. The proposition in relation to building a house or pur- chasing a site may be stated in the notice and the ballot with some limitation as to cost; and, if so stated, the directors will be bound by the limitation. But if the notices merely state, in general terms, that the object of the election is to vote for or against authorizing the directors to build a new school house, or to purchase a new site, and a clear majority is in favor of building or purchasing, it is held that the directors are thereby empowered to take the necessary steps to carry out, in their best discretion, the wishes of the inhabitants of the district, subject to the restrictions of the law in respect to the amount of tax that may be levied. The vote to build a house or to purchase a site does not give power to borrow money for such purposes. [See Sec. 47,. note {a) 2.] SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 153 9. A Second Ballot cannot be taken at the Same Election. When, at any election in a school township or district, a ballot is regularly taken and the result announced, said ballot is con- clusive and final. Another ballot, at the same meeting, cannot be had, either to gratify disappointed and dissatisfied voters, or for any other reason. The moment the balloting is concluded, the powers of the voters, at that election, are exhausted. A second ballot, if taken, would be illegal and void. 10. Mandamus to compel Directors to act. When directors are instructed by a vote of the people, legally taken, to levy a tax or borrow money to build a school house, or to do any other act or thing which the inhabitants of a district may law- fully require to be done by them, and said directors neglect or refuse to obey such instructions — and when directors fail or refuse to discharge the duties clearly imposed upon them, as directors, by law, and the people of the district have no other recourse or remedy — in all such cases, a writ of mandamus will lie to the board of directors, commanding and compelling them to discharge their duty. [Beverly v. Sabin, 20 111., 357 ; Cotton V. Reed, Ibid., 607.] 11. Choice of Site by Directors. If the proposition to select a site for a school house is submitted without restriction, so that each voter can vote for such site as he pleases, then if no site receives a majority of the votes, the directors may select a site. But if the proposition is submitted in such a way as to restrict the vote to one or more sites named, then in case no site receives a majority of the votes cast, the directors should not select a site themselves ; they should call another election. 12. When Oivners of Land ivill not sell it for a School House. If a site selected for a school house cannot be bought of the owner, the land may be condemned ; provided that, if it is outside the limits of any incorporated city or village and also within forty rods of the dwelling house of the owner, it cannot be taken. A site cannot be condemned before it has been legally chosen. [Gerke v. Piircell, 25 Ohio St., 229.] Improved real estate can be seized, and lots already in use maybe enlarged. [Thompson v. District, 1 Chester Co. E., 493.] The directors should always aim to get a clear title to the site, and the deed should be taken in the name of the township trustees of schools. [Sec. 39.] —10 154 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 13. Renting a House. See paragraph 2, note {h), above. OF JUDGMENTS AND EXECUTIONS AGAINST BOARDS OF TRUSTEES OR SCHOOL DIRECTORS. 49. Judgments against trustees and directors. § 49. If judgment shall be obtained against any township board of trustees or school directors, the party entitled to the benefit of such judgment may have execution therefor as follows, to-wit : It shall be lawful lor the court in which such judgment shall be obtained, or to which such judgment shall be removed, by transcript or appeal from a justice of the peace, or other court, to issue thence a writ, commanding the directors, trustees and treasurer of such township to cause the amount thereof, with interest and costs to be paid to the party entitled to the bene- fit of said judgment, out of any moneys unappropriated, of said township or district, or, if there be no such moneys, out of the first moneys applicable to the payment of the kind of services or indebtedness for which such judgment shall be ob- tained, which shall be received for the use of such township or district, and to enforce obedience to such writ by attach- naent, or by mandamus requiring such board to levy a tax for the payment of said judgment ; and all legal process, as well as writs to enforce payments of a judgment, shall be served either on the president or clerk of the board, {a) (a) 1. Judgments, how satisfied. A general execution does not lie against a school board. [Thomas v. Urhana District, 71 111., 283; Watson v. Ahrij, 9 111. App. (9 Brad.), 280.] When directors are sued, in their corporate name, and judg- ment is obtained against them, said judgment must be paid out of the funds belonging to the district ; it can not be satis- fied out of the unapportioned township funds. The same is true where a mandamus is issued, directed against the trustees, treasurer and directors, which is the usual form. It can not be supposed that a judgment against a single district should be satisfied out of funds not yet apportioned by the trustees to the several districts ; this would make all the districts con- tribute to the payment of the debts of one. Every district is liable exclusively for its own debts. 2. Moneys not to he diverted. Even in satisfaction of a judgment, moneys raised for a particular purpose may not be used for another purpose. [Pennington v. Coe, 57 111., 118.] 8. Mechanic s Lien— Garnishment. A mechanic's lien may not be taken against school property ; nor may a school board or a school, treasurer be garnisheed. [Quinn v. Allen, 85 111., 39 ; Merwin v. Chicago, 45 111., 133 ; Bivens v. Harper, 59 111., 21.] SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 155 4. Bonds on Appeals. School boards do not give bonds on appeals. [Holmes v. Mattoon, 111 111. 27.] 5. Judgment fraudulently obtained. Persons accepting posi- tions as members of a school board of directors or trustees, or other school offices, should not allow their private interest to conflict with public duty. Equity and good faith will require them to defend suits against their district or township and to protect its property, to the best of their skill and ability, re- gardless of any private interest they may have. A decree ob- tained against a school corporation by collusion with or neglect by its officers may be impeached for fraud. [Noble v. Directors, 117 111., 30; Nevil v. Clifford, 55 Wis., 161.] EXAMINATION AND QUALIFICATIONS OF TEACHERS. 50. Certificates granted, to ■whom — First grade — Second. § 50. No teacher shall be authorized to teach a common school under the provisions of this act who is not of good moral character, and who does not possess a certificate as required by this section. It shall be the duty of the county superintendent to grant certificates to such persons as may, upon due examination, be found qualified ; and said certificates shall be of two grades ; those of the first grade shall be valid for two years, and shall certify that the person to which such certificate is given is qualified to teach orthography, reading in English, penmanship, arithmetic, English grammar, modern geography, the elements of the natural sciences, the history of the United States, physiology and the laws of health. Certifi- cates of the second grade shall be valid for one year, and shall certify that the person to whom such certificate is given is qualified to teach orthography, reading ' in English, penman- ship, arithmetic, English grammar, modern geography and the history of the United States, (a) Rene'wal — Revocation — Form. The county superintend- ent may, at his option, renew* said certificates at their expira- tion, by his endorsement thereon, and may revoke! the same at any time, for immorality, incompetency or other just cause. Said certificates may be in the following form, viz : (b) Illinois 18 County. The undersigned, having examined in orthography. reading in English, penmanship, arithmetic, Englisli grammar, modern geography, the history of the United States, and being satisfied that is of good moral eliaracter, hereby certifies tliat quaUfications in the above branches are such as to entitle « _. to this eertifleate, being of the grade, and valid in said county for year from the date hereof, renewable at the option of the county superintendent by his endorsement thereon. Given under my hand and seal at the date aforesaid. A. B., County Superintendent of Schools. *rorm No. 25. tForms Nos. 26 and 27. 156 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. County normal school diploma. In any county in which a county normal school is established, under the control of a county board of education, the diplomas of graduates in said normal school shall, when directed by said board, be taken by the county superintendent as sufficient evidence of qualifica- tions to entitle the holder to a first class certificate, (c) Record. Each county superintendent shall also keep a record, m a book provided for that purpose, of all teachers to whom he grants certificates. Said record shall show the date and grade of each certificate granted, and the name, age and nativity of each teacher; and shall give the names of male and female teachers separately. Said record may be as follows, viz : Name. Age. Nativity. Date. Grade . Eemarks. Chas. Thompson 25 Illinois. March 1, 1874. 1 Has taught 5yrs. A copy or transcript of said record shall be transmitted by the county superintendent, with his regular report, to the state superintendent, (d) State certificate. The state superintendent of public in- struction IS hereby authoiized to grant state certificates to such teachers as may be found worthy to receive them, which shall be of perpetual validity in every county and school district in the state. But state certificates shall only be granted upon public examination, of which due notice shall be given, in such branches and upon such terms, and by such examiners as the state superintendent and the principals of the normal universi- ties may prescribe. Said certificates may be revoked by the state superintendent upon proof of .immoral or unprofessional conduct, (c) Branches of study to be taught in schools. Every school established under the provisions of this act shall be for the instruction in the branches of education prescribed in the qualifications for teachers, and in such other branches, includ- ing vocal music and drawing, as the directors or the voters of the district, at the annual election of directors, may prescribe. (/) [March 30-July 1, 1874.] (a) 1. Who may he examined — Moral Character — Age. If a county superintendent is satisfied that an applicant for a cer- tificate is not a person of such moral character as the teacher should possess, and that he can not on that account license him to teach, he need not examine him as to his other quali- fications. Teachers in this state can be questioned and in- quired about, in respect to their moral character, in the ordi- nary acceptation of that phrase, but no inquisition whatever SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 157 can be made into their particular religious opinions and beliefs ; or if so questioned, they may refuse to answer. And if the county superintendent should find the applicant to be of un- blemished morals, and of suitable scholastic attainments, a license could not be refused on the ground of his holding or discarding any peculiar religious views, or for refusing to answer any questions in relation thereto ; for no person shall be re- quired to attend or support any ministry or place of worship against his consent, nor shall any preference be given by law to any religious denomination or mode of worship. [Const, of 111., Art. 2, § 3.J The law does not fix a minimum age at which persons may be granted certificates ; but, certainly, immature boys and girls may not be put in charge of schools. County superintendents will not act unwisely if they follow quite closely the suggestion of the law, which calls minors infants and children, and keeps them subject to many disabilities and to the control of parents and guardians. Surely, maturity and strength of char- acter are needed to manage a school successfully and to deter- mine wisely the important questions which demand an answer of the teacher almost daily. 2. Discretion of the County Superintendent. The law does not prescribe much with regard to the examination. It uses the term "due examination" and says that the superintendent must certify that those whom he licenses after such an exam- ination are "qualified to teach" certain branches of study. The manner, form and extent of the examination are left to the discretion of the superintendent. The law does not require that he shall demand the same written examination of all appli- cants. He may determine whether or not it is necessary to examine in the same way the teacher of known and tried in- telligence and ability, the beginner, and the teacher of whose previous work he knows nothing. The extent and the limitation of his discretion in granting or refusing a certificate have been stated by the supreme court of Indiana recently as follows : "The office of county superintendent belongs to the executive department of the state, and the statute does not confer upon "the incumbent either judicial or quasi judicial power in the matter of licensing persons to teach in the common schools. "The statute confers upon the county superintendent a dis- cretion on the subject of licensing teachers, which is so far 158 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. analagous to judicial discretion that he is protected from any claim for damages on account of any mere mistake in his decision, or error in judgment, either in granting or withholding a license. "A county superintendent is liable in damages for maliciously withholding a license to teach from an applicant lawfully en- titled to receive the same, and he will be held to have acted maliciously where be acts either from willful and wicked or from corrupt motives." [Elmore v. Overton, 104 Ind., 548.] 3. Suggestions as to the Examination. Perhaps the most difficult and responsible duty devolved by law upon county super- intendents, is that of determining who shall be the teachers of our common schools. The county supeiintendent stands at the gateway of every public school in his county, and decides who shall, and who shall not enter. Upon the manner in which he scrutinizes the moral and intellectual credentials of the ap- plicant, depends the character of the school of which he is to become the teacher. Certificates are to be granted to those only who, upon due examination, are found to possess the quali- fications required by the act. Every certificate issued to one who is unworthy, either men- tally or morally, to receive it, is not only a violation of law, but is a direct blow at the heart of our common schools. Such a certificate is an official license, not to elevate and bless, but to injure and degrade, and it may be to contaminate and curse the schools and the community. Good schools can not be taught by incompetent teachers ; the moral atmosphere of the schools can not be kept pure by profane or irreverent teach- ers. It is by no means a self-evident truth that poor schools are better than none ; they may be so poor as to be a great deal worse than none. It is truly lamentable that the number of thoroughly qualified teachers is so small ; and yet the supply of such is not so much less than the demand, as many seem to suppose. Teachers of at least fair abilities are usually to be had, if called for, and a reasonable compensation is offered. The saddest fact is that such teachers are in so little demand. County superintendents can do much to correct this state of things by insisting, to every reasonable and practicable extent, upon the full measure of ability demanded by the law. They should strive to convince school officers and parents how diffi- cult it is to eradicate wrong habits of study, carelessness and inattention, false ideas of facts and principles, from the tena- cious and imitative minds of children, when once implanted by SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 159 smatterers and pretenders in the great art of teaching; and that it is far better to wait until a good and safe teacher can be procured, though at a greater cost, than to accept the ser- vices of any other, at any price. It is best to combine the two methods of examination, oral and written. Each has its advantages ; methods of teaching, skill in expedients, aptness in illustration, etc., can be best brought out by the oral method ; while habits of thinking and modes of reasoning, proofs of discipline and accuracy, acquaint- ance with principles, and general availability of knowledge, etc., are best shown by the written methud. As a general rule, the poorer the attainments of the applicant, the longer it will take to examine him, and vice versa. The reason of this is ob- vious ; there are, as is well known to qualified examiners, certain comprehensive questions that may be framed in relation to each of the branches mentioned in the law, upon the manner of an- swering which, the kind and degree of the candidate's profi- ciency may be very correctly determined. If these are answered in a prompt, methodical, and scholarly manner, such answers necessarily imply a thoroughness of training, and a mastery of principles, that justify a comparatively brief examination of de- tails. But if test questions of this character are not so an- swered, a protracted examination upon minor points is usually necessary; for it is by no means safe or just to conclude that a certificate is to be refused because the applicant is not versed in the laws of generalization, or in the nicer processes of scien- tific analysis, transcendently important as the latter are. A person may be found worthy of licensure, upon a fair estimate of average ability in the details of each branch, in connection with good teaching powers, sense and tact, personal and social qualities, etc., who would fail if tried by other and severer tests. The aim of the superintendent should be to do justice alike to every candidate, to the law and to himself. This duty is one of delicacy and difficulty, and must not be done hurriedly and superficially, but patiently, fairly and searchingly. It is in this way only that justice can be done to all, the intention of the law fulfilled, and the grade of qualifi- cations be improved. Let examinations be so conducted that the ignorant and conceited shall have a wholesome dread of them, while the modest and deserving, on the other hand, shall be assured that no injustice will be done them. 160 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. The county superintendent must remember, too, that he is to certify that the person to whom he grants his certificate "is qualified to teach" the branches named. He should take into account, also, the conditions under which the teaching is to be done — that there will be both a school to be governed and children to be instructed. Hence he not only may but should inquire into the applicant's knowledge of the principles and methods which should guide in training children, his aptness to teach and his ability to control them. Furthermore, the superintendent should give due weight to any knowledge he has of the applicant's success as a teacher. The man who has repeatedly demonstrated his unfitness to have charge of a school, should not be granted a certificate, however good his scholarship may be. 4. Grade of Certificates — Physiology and the Elements of the Natural Sciences. The leading distinction between the two grades of certificates, besides the difference in term, is that the applicant for the first grade certificate must be examined as to his qualifications in the seven branches of study named in the second grade certificate, and, in addition thereto, in the elements of the natural sciences and in physiology and the laws of health. The natural sciences are, for the purposes of this examination, botany, zoology and natural philosophy. In examining upon the seven branches, if any difference is made in the character of the examination between applicants for first grade certificates and those applying for second grade certificates, the difference should relate rather to the extent of the knowledge required. Every teacher, whether he hold a first or a second grade certificate, should have a clear com- prehension of the fundamental principles, the rudiments, the primary rules, laws and facts in each branch of study. It is suggested that persons who have not shown themselves successful teachers should not receive first grade certificates. 5. Certificates not to he granted ivithout examination. It is the positive duty of the superintendent to know that none but the qualified receive certificates. The fact that a teacher already has one, or ten certificates, from other county super- intendents, does not constitute such knowledge by any means. True, it should, but it does not ; it is presumptive only, not conclusive. The qualifications of not a few teachers have proved, upon thorough examination, to be in inverse ratio to the SCHOOL LA.WS AND DECISIONS. 161 number of former certificates held by them. A familiar maxim ■of the law must be reversed in the case of candidates for licenses to teach— they are to be presumed incompetent until the contrary is proved. It is an open and palpable violation of the law for a county superintendent to grant to any one a certificate without examination, either upon his representation or upon his recommendations. It is equally a violation of the law for him to adopt as his own an examination held by an- other and not within his own control and direction. In all these duties in which a special trust is reposed in the abilities, judgment, skill or learning of the officer himself, his personal services are required. Such a duty, preeminently, is that of examining and licensing teachers, imposed upon the county superintendent by the law. (6) 1. Renewal of Certificates. It is wise for the county superintendent to exercise the power the law gives him to re- new certificates, when he knows that the teacher is faithful, energetic and successful. The county superintendent may renew certificates issued by his predecessor. It is held that a teacher's certificate can not be renewed after its expiration — if renewed at all, it must be done on or before the day it expires. When a certificate expires without renewal, the instrument is dead and can not be revived, and its effectiveness continued by the en- dorsement of the county superintendent — a new certificate must l»e obtained, or the teacher is without a license. 2. Revocation of a certificate. Teachers' certificates may be revoked, but only for just cause. In the exercise of this right the greatest care should be taken to avoid injustice. The pro- fessional reputation of a teacher should not be prejudiced by the revocation of his certificate, except upon the most clear and positive proof of gross misconduct ; but whenever such proof is furnished, the duty of the county superintendent is plain and he must perform it. When the revocation of a certificate becomes clearly necessary, the superintendent should note the fact in his record of certificates granted, and request the teacher to surrender the document. If he refuse to do so, the name of the teacher, date and grade of his certificate, and the fact and date of its revocation, (with cause, if deemed expedient,) should be published in the county papers, or otherwise. This, in that case, would be necessary for the information and pro- jection of the public. The directors, trustees and treasurer, of 162 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. the district and township concerned, should also be informed immediately and officially by the superintendent, in writing, of his action, and duly notified and warned that no public funds can lawfully be paid said teacher for services rendered from and after the date of said revocation. The law does not authorize county superintendents to suspend teachers' certifi- cates, nor is the right to do so implied in the power to revoke. They may grant, renew, and, for good cause, revoke certifi- cates ; their powers in the premises would then seem to be ex- hausted. The rule of law with regard to the way of proceeding in the revocation of a certificate is the same as laid down in regard to the removal of a county superintendent, or the dismissal of a teacher. [Sec. 13, note (a) ; Sec. 48, note {d), 14.] The discretion and responsibility of the county superintend- ent in this matter are the same as stated in note (a), 2, above. 3. Re-instatement of Teachers whose certificates have been re- voked. The law does not prescribe the limits of time within which a teacher, whose certificate has been revoked, may be re-instated in his profession. Each case must, therefore, be determined by the county superintendent, according to his best judgment and discretion, from the facts and circumstances as he knows or believes them to exist. A teacher's license may be revoked for offences of so grave a character as to render it improper ever to restore him to the school-room. On the other hand, the revocation may be necessitated by malfeasances or delinquencies of a less serious nature, against the recurrence of which the county superintendent may be well assured. If, for instance, a teacher is deprived of his certificate for acts of intemperance, or even drunkenness, he may so conduct him- self thereafter as to convince the superintendent that a thorough and genuine reformation has taken place. The power to revoke certificates is conferred for the sole purpose of summarily eject- ing from the school-rooms of the state, such persons as may become clearly unfit for the responsible trusts committed ta teachers of youth, and should never be exercised in any other spirit. As soon, therefore, as the cause is removed, and the dishonored teacher gives proof of having again become worthy of trust, the spirit of the law as well as of charity, would war- rant his re-admission into the profession. SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 163 4. The Certificate a Commission — Form of the Certificate. The certificate is in the nature of a commission and must be at- tacked directly, if at all. Whether it was issued upon due examination or not is a question which cannot be raised to defeat a teacher in a suit brought to recover his wages. The word "may," in the sentence of the law, in which it is provided that a teacher's certificate may be drawn in a given form, was not intended to be interpreted "must." [District v. Sterricker, 86 111., 595,] (c) County Normal School Diplomas. It would seem strange that the diploma of a county normal school should be given recognition in the law, while the diploma of a state normal school is not; but such is the anomaly which our school law presents. (d) Record of Certificates. The record here required is of much importance, and may prove of inestimable value for future refer- ence. County superintendents are enjoined to a faithful per- formance of this duty, and to see that the record is kept in a well bound book, properly ruled and headed for the purpose. The form given in this act is very simple, and it will require but very little time to make the necessary entries. To insure accuracy a proper memorandum should be made immediately after the results of each examination are determined. (e) State Certificates. It is the custom of the state superin- tendent of public instruction to issue a circular from time to time relative to the examination for state certificates. The cir- cular and any other information concerning this grade of cer- tificates can be obtained upon application to him. (/) Province of the Public Schools. Every public school in the state shall be for the purpose of instruction in the branches of education prescribed in the qualifications for teachers. But the directors, if they think it expedient, may cause other branches to be taught, including vocal music and the elements of drawing. It is also competent for the voters of the district, at the annual election of directors, to instruct the directors to introduce other branches as aforesaid; and when a majority of the votes cast at such annual election shall be for such addi- tional branches, the directors must regard and obey such vote. If the question is on the introduction of Drawing, for example, the ballots shall read, "For Drawing," or "Against Drawing," and in the same manner for any other proposed additional branch. But neither the directors nor voters can exclude any ]64 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. branch prescribed by law ; nor can the voters . exclude any branch added by the directors, nor the directors any branch added by the voters. If any added branch is withdrawn, it must be by the same authority that introduced it. Directors are not required to have all the branches prescribed by law taught at the same time. This will rarely be expedient. But every branch so prescribed must be included in the full course of studies of every public school, so that each pupil will have an opportunity to pursue all of said branches during his com- mon school course. By this provision all necessary latitude is given for the introduction into our common schools of such additional or higher branches, whether of language or mathe- matics, etc., as may, in given circumstances, be deemed advis- able. In like manner, under the wise and liberal provisions of this section, high schools may be established in connection with, and as a part of our system of public schools, with a course of instruction as extended and varied as the best in- terests of the community may require. The schools must be English schools to the extent that the English language must he the medium of communication in them. [Powell v. Board of Education, 91 111., 375; note (a), p. 9. Sec. 48, note (e), 2, 3.] 61. Examinations— Times — Places — Notices. § 51. It shall be the duty of the county superintendents to hold meetings at least quarterly, and oftener if necessary, for the examination of teachers, on such days and at such places in the respective counties, as will, in their opinion, accommodate the greatest number of persons desiring such examination. Notice of such meetings shall be published a sufHcient length of time, in at least one newspaper of general circulation, the expense of such publication to be paid out of the school fund, (a) Fees and institute funds. The county superintendent shall, in all cases, require the payment of a fee of one dollar from every applicant for examination for a teacher's certificate, and for each renewal of such a certificate he shall require the payment of a fee of one dollar.* All moneys so received, and the registration fees hereinafter provided for, he shall transmit monthly to the county treasurer, to be by him held and desig- nated as the institute fund, and with the same the county superintendent shall give the treasurer a list of the names of the persons paying such fees. Said fund shall be paid out by the county treasurer only upon the order of the county super- intendent, and only to defray the expenses of the teachers' institutes, which tlie county superintendent is by this section authorized to hold. The county superintendent shall take * Forms Nos. 28, 29, 30 and 3L SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS, 165 vouchers for all payments made out of the institute fund, and he shall render an account of such disbursements with vouchers for the same to the county board at their regular meeting in September, annually, (h) Institutes — Registration fees. The county superintend- ent shall hold, annually, a teachers' institute, continuing in session not less than five days, for the instruction of teachers and those who may desire to teach, and with the concurrence of the state superintendent of public instruction, procure such assistance as may be necessary to conduct the same at such time as the schools in the county are generally closed : Pro- vided, that two or more adjoining counties may hold an insti- tute together, (c) At every such institute instruction shall be free to such as hold certificates good in the county (or coun- ties, where two or more join to hold an institute) in which the institute is held ; but the county superintendent shall require all others attending to pay him a registration fee of one dollar except those who have paid an examination fee as required by this act, and failed to receive a certificate, (d) [June 3 — July 1, 1879; June 23— July 1, 1883.] (a) Number of Examinations — Places — Notices, Public and Private. By this section, it is made the duty of county super- intendents to hold at least four public examinations annu- ally, for teachers desiring certificates, on such days and at such different points in their respective counties as will, in their estimation, best accommodate those concerned. It is not meant by the term "quarterly," that the four public ex- aminations should be held successively at the precise interval of three months. The intention of the law is simply to re- quire that there shall not be less than four public examinations in each year ; the precise time of each being left to the dis- cretion of the county superintendent, having in view the con- venience and accommodation of the largest number of teachers. It is plain, from the language of the law, that in all large counties, more than one place should be designated for the holding of such examinations ; they are to be held "on such days and at such places in their respective counties as will, etc." The superintendents of large counties should not re- quire the attendance of all applicants for certificates at the county seat, or wherever their respective offices may be ; this would, in many instances, impose an unreasonable burden of time and expense upon candidates. It must be noticed that the convenience of the greatest number of persons desiring examination, and not the convenience of the county superin- 166 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. tendents, is the rule which should govern in the designation of times and places. Superintendents receive compensation for the services required by this section, and they must, if necessary, subordinate their own convenience to that of the teachers of the county. The object of the law in requiring a certain number of pub- lic examinations, is primarily, that teachers, and all others interested, may have due and timely notice of the times and places where such meetings will be held, that they may make their arrangements and govern themselves accordingly. Others beside the candidates have an interest in such examinations, and may desire to attend them. This is particularly true of the directors and citizens of the particular districts where the applicants may propose to teach, in order that they may see and hear for themselves, and be thereby the better enabled to judge of the abilities and qualifications of the persons whom they propose to employ. The four examinations required by law must therefore be strictly public — open to all who may choose to attend. It is, however, to be distinctly understood that the number of public examinations that may be held is not limited to four ; that is merely the minimum number re- quired by law. Superintendents may hold as many more pub- lic examinations as they choose ; they may hold them monthly, or even oftener, if deemed expedient ; or they may insist that all examinations held by them shall be open and public, if in their estimation, the best interests of education would thereby be promoted. On the other hand, it is not to be understood that private examinations of teachers are meant to be interdicted by this section as amended. Special cases or emergencies may occur when private examinations should be granted. But while the liberty of private examinations is not withdrawn, it is recom- mended that all examinations be public, unless very good reasons exist in favor of a contrary course. It is well known to the experienced, that public examinations are in almost all cases more thorough, impartial and satisfactory than private ones. Another consideration in favor of public examinations is found in the fact that it effectually prevents charges of favoritism or partiality, which are sometimes brought against superintendents, however groundless or unjust such charges may be. SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 167 Notices of all public examinations must be given for a suffi- cient length of time, by publication in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the county. The expense of such pub- lication, in whatever form made, is to be paid out of the school fund. (b) Fees— Accounts. By the payment of the fee of one dol- lar, the applicant for a certificate becomes entitled to a fair opportunity to pass the prescribed examination at the usual time. Having had that opportunity, the right gained by the payment of the fee has been exhausted ; and if the applicant has failed to get a certificate, he must pay a second fee, if he wishes for a second examination. If, however, the county superintendent wishes to examine further in certain of the branches an applicant who has passed well in the others, he need not charge a second fee for such continuance of the ex- amination. All fees, with the list of names of the persons from whom they have been received, must be deposited with the county treasurer monthly, and may be used by the county superin- tendent for one purpose only — to defray the expenses of the teachers' institute which he is required by this section of the law to hold. He should make his deposits with the county treasurer regularly the first day of each month. A statement of the receipts and expenditures with vouchers must be made by the county superintendent as a part of his annual report to the county board. [See note {b), 4 and 5, Sec. 14.] (c) 1. The Institute. The institute required by this section must be a meeting of at least five days' continuance, held "at such time as the schools in the county are generally closed." AT shorter meeting does not satisfy the law. Two or three teachers' meetings held at different places in the county for one or two days each may not be substituted for the institute. So long as very many of the teachers of the state have not had any professional training for their work, some means must be employed to supply this deficiency; and for many years past, the practice of bringing the older, experienced teachers in contact with the younger, inexperienced ones, for the pur- pose of instruction and the exchange of ideas, has proved suc- cessful. What the teachers have learned, their book knowledge, the county superintendent may test by examinations for certifi- cates ; but valuable and essential as this kind of knowledge is, 168 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS^ it is not to be compared in value with the teachers' abihty to- impart instruction and their method of teaching. The latter can be tested by actual work in the school-room only. It may be acquired by experimenting; but in this way, years of strength on the part of teachers are wasted, not to speak of the precious material experimented upon, young, tender human souls, that will be formed for good or for ill, like wax in the master's hands. To prevent in some measure this experimenting, the teachers' institute should be conducted so as to instruct the young teachers in principles and in natural, rational methods in the elementary branches : reading, arithmetic, penmanship, geography and history. Irrational methods cause a waste of the teachers' and pupils' time and the people's money, and contribute more to hinder true progress and to bring the pro- fession of teaching into ill repute than any other thing. That the instruction in, and the exemplification of, principles and methods do not exclude academic instruction, and conse- quently improve the qualifications of teachers also in this direc- tion, is obvious. Also, the knowledge necessary for passing an examination may incidentaly be acquired ; but cramming for passing an examination is certainly to be deprecated, and ought, by no means, to be the prime object of attendance upon an institute. Too much time, also, is often consumed by the discussion of parliamentary rules and fine grammatical points. The teachers come together for work, work that will tell in their school-rooms next term, and the time is too short to admit of disputations and wrangles over subtleties. The legitimate objects of the county teachers' institute are: 1st. To impart instruction (a) in subjects to be taught, (b) in principles and methods of teaching, and of these, (b) is the more important. 2d. To unify, in some measure, the work done in the schools of the county. 3d. To promote a professional esprit de corps by bringing the less experienced into contact with maturer minds, and so leading them to higher aspirations. 4th. To instruct the community upon the aims and scope of the school. The subject matter to be taught ought to be presented by the instructor or conductor without the help of the book ; free, SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 169 easy expression of thought, a fluency of speech, ought to be insisted upon. Though most of the text books are logical in their arrangement with regard to the science or art to be taught, they are rarely so arranged as to serve for a guide in teaching the science or art. The conductor ought to classify the sub- ject matter with regard to the nature of the little learners, and to- the difficulties experienced in grasping the same. And in this way the matter ought to be presented to the teachers. Be careful to employ competent instructors, for upon their work, their energy, their methods, their general conduct, the success of the institute depends. Only such teachers should be employed as instructors, as are fully acquainted with the different methods pursued in teaching primary classes. They should not be mere lecturers, but actual schoolmasters who have tested their theories in the school-room for years, and are able to show the advantages of their own methods, as well as the deficiencies of other methods. Beware of such as "have pet theories to air," the itinerant elocutionist, et id omne genus. Such instructors can only mislead young teachers in their aims and aspirations. Institute work is persistent, honest toil, not ostentatious, dramatic entertainment. None should be employed as conductors who have not had experience in institute work. Those who have not had expe- rience in institute work, but yet can teach to teachers certain branches successfully, will be needed as instructors and will be called upon to assist the conductors in the work of the in- stitute. Conductors should not only be teachers of experience ; they should be acquainted with the history of education and of methods, the theory and art of teaching, and should be, withal, men of broad, progressive views and of extensive learn- ing; they should be leaders, and men with talent for organi- zation and of executive ability. Wherever it is possible, classes of children at different stages of advancement ought to be present for the instructor to work with and to exemplify his methods. In penmanship, drawing and music, the pupils of the institute, the teachers, may be formed into classes to learn both the subject matter and the method of teaching it. Devote part of the time to academic instruction, to instruction in higher branches, but let the greater part of the time be occupied in teaching principles and methods. For, if the children are to learn to love school and —11 170 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. its work, the teachers must have rational methods based upon sound principles. Where the method of the teacher is without plan and object, where it is irrational or defective, the children grow weary and lose their interest in the matter presented. And let me say it again, principles and methods above all things. Another feature of the institute should be the exhibition of pupils' work from the schools of the county. By this the effi- ciency of the teachers can be tested and the interest of the patrons of the schools aroused. Another way to interest the people in your work, is by having evening lectures on educa- tional topics. Have vocal music to enliven the exercises ; in course of several years you may create a love of music, not only among the teachers, but, by carrying it into the school rooms, through them, also among the people at large. 2. Teachers for the Institute to he employed ivith the Concur- rence of State Superintendent. The law requires the county superintendent to procure, "with the concurrence of the state superintendent of public iustsuction," such teachers as he may need for his institute. The state superintendent will, on appli- cation, license in writing as institute conductors and instructors such persons as he knows to be well qualified therefor. County superintendents may employ persons thus approved by written license without correspondence with the state superintendent. If they wish to employ persons who have not been already licensed, they should first consult with the state superinten- dent. The county superintendent may himself, of course, act as a conductor or an instructor in his institute. For such services he receives his per diem in the usual way ; but he does not draw any compensation from the institute fund. {d) Who may attend Free of Charge — Registration Fees. The expenses of the institute are chiefly paid from the examination fees ; so those who have paid such fees are entitled to attend the institute free of charge. This includes all who have certifi- cates in force, and those, who, having paid a fee for exami- nation since the last institute, failed to receive a certificate. All others attending the institute must contribute their part towards its expenses by payment of a registration fee of one dollar. If the institute is held for a longer time than the fund will pay for, then a part of the term — not less than five days — SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 171 should be designated in advance as the time to be paid for by the fund, and during this part of the term it should be well understood that instruction is free to all entitled by the pay- ments they have made to attend free. TEACHERS — THEIR DUTIES. 62. Must have certificate — To keep schedules and ac- count for property. § 52. No teacher shall be entitled to any portion of the common school or township fund, or other public fund, or be employed to teach any school under the con- trol of any board of directors of any school district in this state, who shall not at the time of his employment have a certificate ■of qualification, obtained under the provisions of this act, en- titling him to teach during the entire term of his contract ; (a) nor shall any teacher be paid any portion of the school or public fund aforesaid unless he shall have kept and furnished schedules as herein directed, and shall have satisfactorily ac- counted for the books, apparatus and other property of the dis- trict that he may have taken in charge, (b) fJune 3 — July 1, 1879.] (a) 1. Teacher must have a Certificate for ivhole Term of Con- tract. When a person makes a contract, he must have a cer- tificate good for the full term of the contract, or neither he nor the school board will be bound by the contract ; and the con- tract is not made binding by the fact that the teacher obtains such a certificate before he begins school. {Stevenson v. Directors, 87 111., 285; Davis v. Directors, 92 111., 293; Butler v. Haines, 79 Ind., 575.] No teacher can be required to procure more than one certifi- cate in order to teach the same school. In case a district lies * partly in two counties the teacher must obtain a certificate from the superintendent of the county in which the school house is situated. He cannot be required to have certificates from both superintendents. 2. If Certificate expires during the Term. If a teacher's cer- tificate expires during his term of school, he will be entitled to bis pay for services rendered while his certificate was in force. 3. A Teacher ivithout a Certificate must not be paid. The declaration of the law is emphatic — no teacher without a cer- tificate may be paid for services, and the full intent of the law has been sustained by the courts repeatedly. 172 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. As elsewhere stated, all funds collected from taxes levied by school directors, must be held subject to, and paid out upon the orders of the directors of the district. But the orders on such tax funds must be for the payment of debts legally con- tracted, and no others. Hence a board of directors cannot use any portion of such special district taxes to pay a teacher who taught without having the necessary certificate of qualifications. Directors are empowered to levy taxes for the sole purpose of supporting or extending the terms of such schools, and such only, as the law contemplates. But the law does not contem- plate or in any manner recognize, schools taught by teachers who have no certificates, and no public or special tax funds can, therefore, be used to pay any of the expenses of schools so taught. Any other interpretation of the statute would be absurd, because if the directors may ignore the provision in respect to certificates, they may ignore every other provision of the act, and levy taxes to pay the teachers of writing schools, or singing schools, or any other description of schools, how- ever unlike they may be to the public schools provided for in the statute. [Casey v. Baldridge, 15 111., 65 ; Wells v. People,. 71 111., 532.] Directors who pay a teacher who has no certificate are per- sonally liable for the loss of school funds through their misuse of them. The school taught by a teacher without a certificate is not a legal school ; and if, on that account, the district loses its share of funds distributed by the trustees [see note (c). Sec. 34], the directors are further liable personally for such loss. They are also liable to a fine for a failure to perform their duty under the law. [Sec. 77.] If directors employ a teacher who has not a certificate, as required by law, and the treasurer knows the fact, even if the directors certify to his schedule, the treasurer cannot pay it. It would be a case of open violation of a positive requirement of the law, and should not be overlooked. Known and palpable fraud always vitiates. Any interested taxpayer may enjoin the payment of a teacher who has no certificate, or may stop the payment of a judgment in favor of such teacher, if obtained by collusion with the di- rectors. [Barr v. Deniston, 19 N. H., 170; Noble v. Directors,.. 117 111., 30.] SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 173 If a teacher teaches for a while without a certificate and then gets one, the directors can not pay for the time taught without a certificate. Neither can they pay him indirectly for such time by hiring him over at an advance in salary sufficient to make up for the time taught before he got a certificate. Public officers must not do indirectly what the law forbids them to do directly. [Wells v. People, 71 111., 532.] 4. Substitutes and Assistants must have Certificates. The teacher employed as a substitute for however short a time, must have a certificate of qualification, make a schedule, and comply with all other requirements of the law, or the public funds can not be used in payment of the temporary services so rendered. One teacher cannot receive wages on the certifi- cate of another, or in the name of another teacher. All assistant teachers, special teachers of writing, etc., in- cluded, in the public schools, must have certificates of qualifi- cation from the county superintendent — there is no exception to the emphatic requirements of the law in respect to certifi- cates. This opinion is grounded upon the plain object of the legis- lature in requiring teachers to possess certificates ; which can be none other than to secure the employment of teachers of approved character and ability — a consideration of quite as much moment in the case of assistant teachers, as any other. 5. Superintendents of City and Village Schools. It is held that the superintendent of city and village schools belongs to the teaching force, and should, therefore, have a certificate of qualification in order that he may draw his pay. 6. Restraining the Board and the Teacher. When the direct- ors persist, in violation of law, in retaining a teacher who does not hold a certificate, any taxpayer or patron of the school would be entitled to an injunction to restrain the teacher or the board from continuing the school. The county superintend- ent cannot take out an injunction in such a case. [Perkins V. Wolf, 17 la., 228; Barr v. Deniston, 19 N. H., 170.] The county superintendent has discharged his whole duty in the premises when he has notified the directors and the teacher that they are violating the law and of the consequences thereof ; and has directed the trustees and the treasurer to pay no more orders drawn for such teacher's salary and to exclude the dis- trict from the distribution of funds the next year, unless it shall 174 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. have a school taught by a teacher holding a valid certificate for not less than one hundred and ten days during the year. When the schools of any district are operated under a special law, which does not give the school board of such district, in unmistakable terms, power to examine its teachers and grant them certificates, the board may lawfully employ such teachers only as hold certificates obtained under the general school law. [Board of Education v. Arnold, 112 111., 11. j (b) ] . Schedules — One for a School with two or more Teachers, The two following sections deal more in detail with the sched- ules. It is held that the requirement of the law, that every teacher shall keep a schedule, is fully satisfied if, in a school in which there are several teachers, there is made up a com- plete schedule for the whole. (If such a district is in two or more townships or counties, there must be separate schedules, as required by the next section.) One schedule for the whole school serves every, purpose for which schedules are kept as well as several ; and if kept by one teacher for all, is really the schedule of all: "Qui facit per alium, facit per se." The same rule will govern with regard to special teachers of music, drawing, etc. One schedule could be made sufficient for such a school, also, by inserting the names of all the teachers in the heading, and having each one sign it. 2. The Teacher's Responsibility for School Froperty. A teach- er, while in charge of a school, has usually, for the time being, charge of the school premises and property. It is his duty to use due diligence to prevent any unreasonable injury or waste of them, and this is the extent of his responsibility in this regard. 53. To keep registers— Form of register. § 53. Teachers shall keep correct daily registers of their schools, which shall exhibit the name, age and attendance of each pupil, the day of the week, the month and the year. Said registers shall be as nearly as may be in the following form, the absence of each scholar being signified by a mark, the presence by a blank, viz : SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 175 Eegistee of a common school kept hy A B at in district number — in toiunship number range of the p^nncipal meridian, in. the county of in the Slate of Illinois. Names and ages of scholars attending school. 1 k o p p CD ■ o a, S w & ;<- 00 to p S. Cu p > 111., 508.] COMMON SCHOOL FUNDS. 68. state school fund. § 68. The common school fundi of this state shall consist of the proceeds of a two-mill tax, to be levied upon each dollar's valuation of the property in the state, annually, until otherwise provided by law; the interest on what is known as the school fund proper, being three per cent, upon the proceeds of the sales of the public lands in the state, one-sixth part excepted, and the interest on what is known as the surplus revenue, distributed by act of congress,, and made a part of the common school fund by act of the legislature, IMarch 4, 1837. (a) (a) State Tax for School Purposes. In section one of an act to provide the necessary revenue for state purposes, approved May 3, 1873, it was provided that there should be levied "for state school purposes, to be designated state school fund (in lieu of the two-mill tax therefor) $1,000,000 annually." By the twenty-third clause of the act making appropriations the same year for the expense of the state government, this amount was. appropriated to the counties hota. the state school fund, and the auditor was authorized to "issue his warrant, on the proper evidence that the amount distributed had been paid to the county school superintendents." Substantially the same course has been taken by the subsequent general assemblies. 69. State interest. § 69. The state shall pay the inter- est mentioned in the next preceding section at the rate of six per cent, per annum, annually, to be paid into and become part, of said school fund, (a) SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 205 (a) State indebted to the School Funds. The state has bor- Towed and used the school fund proper with the surplus rev- enue fund added to it, as above, the college fund and the semin- ary fund. The aggregate of these funds is about eleven hundred and sixty-five thousand dollars. Of the interest a little more than fifty-six thousand dollars goes to the common school fund. About thirteen thousand dollars goes to the two state normal. schools, which share it equally. 70. Apportionment of state fund — Warrants applied in collectors' settlements. § 7U. On the first Monday m January, in each and every year next after taking the census of the state, the auditor of public accounts shall ascertain the number of children in each county in the state, under twenty- one years of age, and shall thereupon make a dividend to each -county of tbe sum from the tax levied and collected under the provisions of the sixty-eighth section of this act, and of the interest due on the school fund proper and surplus revenue, in proportion to the number of children in each county under the age aforesaid, and issue his warrant to the superintendent of schools of each county upon the collector thereof. And upon presentation of said warrant by the county superintend- ent to the collector of his county, said collector or treasurer shall pay over to the county superintendent the amount of said warrant out of the first funds which may be collected by him, and not otherwise appropriated by law, taking said super- intendent's receipt therefor. The warrants issued by the audi- tor of public accounts for the school fund tax and for the in- ierest of the school fund proper and surplus revenue, shall be received by the state treasurer in payment of amounts due to ihe state from county collectors ; and on presentation by the state treasurer of said warrants to the auditor, he shall issue his warrant to said treasurer on the school fund for the amount of the school fund tax warrants, and on the revenue fund for the amount of the warrants for interest on the school fund proper and surplus revenue. Dividends shall be made as aforesaid, according to the proportions ascertained to be due to each county, annually thereafter, until another census shall have been taken, and then dividends shall be made and con- tinued as aforesaid, according to the last census, (a) Suit against defaulting- collector. Provided, that if any collector shall fail or refuse to pay the amount of the afore- said warrant, or any part thereof, by the first day of March, annually, or so soon thereafter as it may be presented, it shall he competent for the county superintendent to proceed against «aid collector and his securities in an action of debt, in any court having competent jurisdiction ; and the said collector shall pay twelve per centum, to be assessed as damages, upon 206 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. the amount due, and which shall be included in the judgment obtained against him. (b) (a) Apportionment by State Auditor on the U. S. Census. Inasmuch as there has been no census taken by state author- ity since 1835, the apportionment by the auditor is made upon the U. S. census. (h) County Superintendent Entitled to Full Amount of Audi- tor s Warrants. The warrants issued by the auditor of public accounts to county superintendents of schools, upon county collectors, both those for the school tax fund and for the in- terest on the school fund, must in all cases be paid in full by said collectors. No deduction can be made for commissions. Those warrants are issued simply as a matter of convenience, to save the trouble of paying the money into the state treas- ury and then paying it out again to the county superintendents of schools. Collectors take receipts of county superintendents for the full amount of the warrants paid, and on settlement with the auditor they are credited with the full amount speci- fied in said receipts, the same as if the money had been actu- ally paid into the treasury. County superintendents have nothing whatever to do with the commissions of collectors ; said commissions are allowed and paid by the auditor on final settlement of collectors with the state ; and if any collector withholds any part of the sum specified in the warrants, on account of commissions, or on any other account, after the amount of said warrants is collected and payable, it is the duty of the superintendent to proceed against said collector and his securities, in an action of debt, in the county court, which has full and complete jurisdiction in the premises. And the collector must pay, as penal damages, twelve per centum upon the amount due and in default. COMPENSATION OF OFFICEKS. 71. Of county superintendent. § 71. County superin- tendents elected hereafter shall receive, in full for all services rendered by them, commissions as follows: Three per cent, commissions upon the amount of sales of school lands, or of sales of land upon mortgage, or of sales of real estate taken for debt, including all services therewith. Two per cent, com- mission upon all sums distributed, paid, or loaned out by them for the support of schools. For all other duties required by law to be performed by them four dollars (|4.00) a day for such number of days as shall be spent in the actual perform- SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 207 ance of their duties, not exceeding the number fixed by the county boards in counties in which the boards are given power to fix the number of days by section (20) of this act, and one dollar ($1.00) a day for expenses for the number of days actually spent in school visitation, (a) Of assistants. The assistants of the county superintend- ents shall receive such compensation as may be fixed by the connty boards, (b) Bills — Auditor to pay — Amount. The county superin- tendents shall present, under oath or affirmation, their itemized bills for their per diem compensation and for the expenses al- lowed by this act when visiting schools, together with a report of all their acts and doings as such county superintendent or assistant, including a list of such schools visited, with the dates of visitation, to the county board at their annual meeting in September, and as near quarterly thereafter as said board may have regular or special meetings, and after the bills have been audited by the county board, the county clerk shall cer- tify to this upon the bills, and transmit them to the auditor of public accounts, who shall, upon receipt of them, remit in payment thereof to each superintendent his warrant upon the state treasurer for the amount certified to be due him. And the auditor, in making his warrant to any county for the amount due it from the state school fund, shall deduct from it the several amounts for which warrants have been issued to the county superintendent of said county since the next preceding apportionment of the state school fund, (c) [June 26 — July 1, 1885.] (a) 1, Commissions. The commissions which the county superintendent receives are to pay for his services in selling school lands and loaning, distributing and paying school funds, and for the heavy responsibilities he assumes in connection therewith. [See note (a), 2, Sec. 11.] The county superintendent is entitled to three per cent, of the amount realized from all sales of school lands made by him. When a sale of school lands is made by the superin- tendent, and the amount for which the lands are sold is not actually paid in, but loaned to the purchaser or purchasers, he is entitled to three per cent, for selling and two per cent, for loaning. When the purchaser of school lands pays the full price of the land to the commissioner in cash, the money so received should be paid to the township treasurer, to be loaned by him. But if the treasurer waives his right to receive and loan said funds, and the township trustees request it, the county superintendent, acting as the agent of the trustees, may negotiate the loan and perform all the services connected there- 208 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. with, retaining the commissions allowed by law. The notes, mortgages and other securities, in such cases, must be made payable to the board of trustees, by their proper corporate name, the same as if the loan had been made by the town- ship treasurer, as required by section fifty-seven. Besides loans made in connection with land sales, the county superintendent loans the county fund in counties having such a fund, and receives commissions therefor. He distributes and pays out "for school purposes" those sums only which he pays over to township treasurers according to Sec. 16 ; and the commission is two per cent, of the amount paid over. 2. Per Diem Compensation. With regard to the power of the county board to fix the number of days, see note (a), Sec, 20. (b) Pay of Assistants. The assistant of the county superin- tendent must be paid out of the county treasury. With refer- ence to the appointment of assistants, see note (b), Sec. 20. (c) The County Superintendents' Bills. The auditor of public accounts furnishes a blank bill in a form which complies with the law. This blank, duly filled out and accompanied by de- tailed report of official work, must be submitted by the county superintendent to the county board. When the bill has been audited by the board and certified by the county clerk, he sends it to the state auditor for payment. As to the power of the county board in the premises, see note (6), 5, Sec. 14, and note {a). Sec. 20. As to when these bills shall be audited and paid, see Sec. 115. 72. Pay of treasurer— Exemption of trustees and directors. § 72. Township treasurers shall receive, in full for their services, a compensation, to be fixed prior to their election, by the board of trustees. Trustees of schools, school directors or other school officers performing like duties, shall Le exempted from road labor and from military duty, {a) {a) 1. Township Treasurers' Compensation. The township treasurer is appointed in the even-numbered years at the meet- ing for organization held by the trustees, within ten days after the election in April. [Note (b), 2, Sec. 32.] Before the treas- urer is appointed at that meeting, the board should fix his compensation. The salary, as fixed, is for all services, both as clerk of the board of trustees and as treasurer; and he may be given no additional compensation during his term of SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 209 of&ce for. the performance of any duties connected therewith. The statute in express terms forbids any such additional com- pensation. [Lovingston v. Trustees, 99 111., 564.] 2. Compensation of Trustees and Directors. The law makes no provision for paying trustees and directors beyond granting iihem exemptions from road labor and military duty. They may not, therefore, be paid for any official service ; for a public officer can not be paid for any services required of and per- formed by him. [Brimer v. Madiso7i County, 111 111., 11.1 The only exception to this is, that the clerk of the board of directors may be paid for clerical services. [Sec. 42.] 3. Exemption. The phrase "or other school officers per- forming like duties" includes members of boards of education under section eighty and special laws, but does not include school treasurers; for their duties are not "similar to those of directors and trustees," and, besides, the statute gives them compensation. The exemption from "road labor" does not mean exemption from road tax. [McDonald v. Madison County, 43 111., 22.] LIABILITIES OF OFFICEES. 73. For conversion of funds. § 73. If any county •superintendent, trustees of schools, township treasurer, director or any other person intrusted with the care, control, manage- ment or disposition of any school, college, seminary or town- ship fund for the use of any county, township, district or school, shall convert such funds, or any portion thereof, to his own use, he shall be liable to indictment, and, upon convic- tion, shall be fined in not less than double the amount of money converted, and imprisoned in the county jail not less than one nor more than twelve months, at the discretion of the court, (a) (a) Conversion of Funds. For provision of the criminal code in relation to such offenses, see Chap. 38, §§ 80, 81, Kev. Stat. 111. 74. Trustees liable for treasurer's sureties. § 74. Trustees of schools shall be liable, jointly and severally, for the sufficiency of securities taken from township treasurers ; and in case of judgment against said treasurers and their securities, for or on account of any default of such treasurer, on which the money shall not be made for want of sufficient property whereon to levy execution, actions on the case may l)e maintained against said trustees jointly and severally, and the amount not collected on said judgment shall be recovered 210 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. with costs : Provided, that if said trustees can show, satisfac- torily, that the security taken from the treasurer as aforesaid was, at the time of said taking, good and sufficient, they shall not be liable as aforesaid. 76. Real estate of school oflB.cers held. § 75. The real estate of county superintendents, of township treasurers and all other school officers, and of the securities of each of them, shall be bound for the satisfaction and payment of all claims and demands against said superintendents and treas- urers and other officers, as such, from the date of issuing pro- cess against them, in actions or suits brought to recover such claims or demands, until satisfaction thereof be obtained ; and no sale or alienation of real estate by any superintendent, treasurer or other officer, or security aforesaid, shall defeat the lien created by this section, but all and singular such real estate held, owned or claimed as aforesaid, shall be liable to be sold in satisfaction of any judgment which may be obtained in such actions or suits, {a) {a) Heal Estate of School Officers held. By this provision of the law it is made impossible for any school officer or his sureties to evade any liability to any school fund by disposing of his real estate after suit has been begun against him. The lien attaches, if judgment is rendered, from the date of issuiug^ process. [Snyder v. Spaidding, 57 111., 480.] 76. Penalties against school oflB.cers — Removal of director by county superintendent. § 76. Trustees of schools, or either of them, failing or refusing to make returns of children in their township, according to the provisions of this act, or if either of them shall knowingly make a false return, the party so offending shall be liable to a penalty of not less than ten dollars nor more than one hundred dollars, to be recovered by action of assumpsit, before any justice of the peace of the county ; which penalty, when collected, shall be added to the township fund ; and if any county superintend- ent, director or trustee, or either of them, or other officer whose duty it is, shall negligently or willfully fail or refuse to make, furnish or communicate the statistics and information, or shall fail to discharge the duties enjoined upon them, or either of them, at the time and in the manner required by the provis- ions of this act, such delinquent or party offending shall be liable to a fine of twenty-five dollars, to be recovered before any justice of the peace, on information, in the name of the People of the State of Illinois, and when collected to be paid to the county superintendent of the proper county, for the use of schools ; and any director failing to perform his duties as director, under this act, may be removed by the county super- intendent, and a new election ordered, as in other cases of vacancy, (a) SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 211 (a) 1. Comjjelling Directors to perform Official Duties. Man- damus is the proper remedy to compel directors to discharge their official duties. [See note (/), 10, Sec. 48.] 2. Penalty recovered on Information. In any suit to recover a fine imposed under the last part of this section, the "infor- mation" required need not be in writing, nor is it necessary that it should run in the name of the People of the State of Illinois. It is sufficient if the process which brings the defend- ant into court runs in the name of the People. The word "in- formation," as used in this section, means "complaint." [Neiv- ton V. People. 72 111., 507.] 3. Removal of a Director. Any director failing to perform his duties, as director, under this act, may be removed by the county superintendent, and a new election ordered, as in other cases of vacancy. A willful refusal to sign a contract made with a teacher, or to accept and file it, or to draw orders for a teacher's pay during the currency of the contract, and an obstinate neglect to furnish necessary school house supplies may be taken into account in proceedings for a removal. Noth- ing is more likely to injure schools than meanness and unfair- ness in dealing with teachers. [Geddes v. Thomastown, 46 Mich., 316.] Before proceeding to remove, due notice must be given the delinquent director, so that he may have an opportunity to avoid removal by attention to his duties. If there is continued failure, the superintendent will inform the delinquent director, in writing, of his removal from office, and also file with the township treasurer a written notice of the same. It will then be the duty of the remaining directors to order an election to fill the vacancy. The remedy is a harsh one, and the county superintendent should not resort to it unless the exigencies of the case plainly demand an exercise of this power. 77. OfB.cers responsible for losses. § 77. County su- perintendents, trustees of schools, directors and township treas- urers, or either of them, and any other officer having charge of school funds or property, shall be responsible for all losses sustained by any county, township or school fund, by reason of any failure on his or their part to perform the duties required of him or them by this act, or by any rule or regulation au- thorized to be made by this act ; and each and every one of the officers aforesaid shall be liable for any such loss sustained as aforesaid, and the amount thereof may be recovered in a civil action before any court having jurisdiction thereof, at the ■212 SCHOOL LA.WS AND DECISIONS. suit of the state of Illinois, for the use of the county, town- ship or fund injured ; and the amount, when collected, shall be paid to the proper officer for the benefit of said county, township, or fund injured, (a) Sectarian appropriations and grants prohibited. No <30unty, city, town, township, school district or other public corporation shall ever make any appropriations or pay from any school fund whatever, anything in aid of any church or sectarian purpose, or to help support or sustain any school, academy, seminary, college, university or other literary or scientific institution controlled by any church or sectarian de- nomination whatever ; nor shall any grant or donation of money or other personal property ever be made by an such corpora- tion to any church, or for any sectarian purpose ; and any of- ficer or other person having under his charge or direction school funds or property, who shall pervert the same in the manner forbidden in this section, shall be liable to indictment, and upon conviction shall be fined in a sum not less than double the value of the property so perverted, and imprisoned in the county jail not less than one or more than twelve months, at the discretion of the court, (b) Officers not to be interested in sale of books or ap- paratus. No teacher, state, county, township or district school officer, shall be interested in the sale, proceeds or profits of any book, apparatus or farniture used or to be used in any school in this state with which such officer or teacher may be connected, and for offending against the provisions of this sec- tion shall be liable to indictment, and upon conviction shall be fined in a sum not less than twenty-five nor more than five hundred dollars, and may be imprisoned in the county jail not less than one nor more than twelve months, at the discretion of the court, (c) (a) Liability for Loss or Misuse of Funds. If school officers squander or misuse or lose school funds, this section affords a complete remedy at law against them. [Moore v. Fessenbeck, 88 III., 422.] (b) Sectarian Appropriations, etc. On this subject, see Art. 8, § 3, Const. 1870; Sec. 39 (&), 14; Sec. 48 (c), 2. (c) School Officers prohibited from selling Books, etc. The township school treasurer is included in this prohibition, since he is a school officer. See, also, Art. 8, § 4, Const. 111., 1870. 78. No costs taxed against school officers. § 78. No justice of the peace, probate justice, constable, clerk of any court, or sheriff, shall charge any costs in any suit where any agent of any school fund, suing for the recovery of the same, or any interest due thereon, is plaintiff, and shall be unsuc- cessful in such suit, (a) SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 21S (a) 1. Costs of Suit to recover School Funds. In suits brought for the recovery of any debt due the school fund, counsel may be employed, when necessary, and a reasonable fee be allowed from the proper school fund. When such suits are unsuc- cessful no costs can be charged by any court before which the case is tried, nor by any constable, sheriff, etc. The clause, being restrictive of the common rule in respect to costs, must, be limited, in construction to the particular cases described. It is not meant to grant immunity from costs where suits are brought and judgments rendered against school ofdcers or their agents, but only when actions are commenced by them, and are not successful. 2. Suits against School Officers personally. All suits brought against school directors, school trustees and other school offi- cers individually, must be defended by such officers at their own expense. Judgments and costs, if entered against school officers in such cases, must be paid by them. It would be a misappropriation of school funds to use them for such a pur- pose. OF CITIES AND INCOKPOEATED TOWNS. 79. This act not to repeal special acts — School officers to report statistics to county superintendent. § 79. This act shall not be so construed as to repeal or change, in any respect, any special acts in relation to schools in cities having less than one hundred thousand inhabitants, or incorporated towns, townships or districts, except that it shall be the duty of the several boards of education or other officers of any city or incorporated town, township or district, having in charge schools under the provisions of the said special acts, or of any ordinance of any city or incorporated town, on or before the fifteenth day of August preceding each regular session of the general assembly of this state, or annu- ally, if required so to do by the state superintendent, to make out and render a statement of all such statistics and other informa- tion in regard to schools, and the enumeration of persons, as is required to be communicated by township boards of trustees- or directors under the provisions of this act, or so much there- of as may be applicable to said city or incorporated town, to the county superintendent of the county where such city or incorporated town is situated, or of the county in which the larger part of such city or town is situated ; nor shall it be lawful for the county superintendent, or any other officer or person, to pay over any portion of the common school fund to any local treasurer, school agent, clerk, board of education, or other officer or person of any township, city or incorporated 214 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. town, unless a report of the number of persons and other statis- tics relative to schools, and a statement of such other informa- tion as is required of the board of trustees or directors as aforesaid, and of other school officers and teachers, under the provisions of this act, shall have been filed at the time or times aforesaid, specified in tfiis section, with the superintendent of schools of the proper county, as aforesaid, (a) Educational institutions to report to state superin- tendent. It shall also be the duty of the president, prmcipal or other proper officer of every organized university, college, seminary, academy, or other literary institution heretofore in- corporated or hereafter to be incorporated in this state, to make out or cause to be made out and forwarded to the office of the superintendent of public instruction on or before the fif- teenth day of August in each year, a report setting forth the amount and estimated value of real estate owned by the cor- poration ; the amount of other funds and endowments, and the yearly income from all sources ; the number of instructors ; the number of students in the different classes ; the studies pursued and the books used; the course of instruction; the terms of tuition, and such other matters as may be specially requested by said superintendent, or as may be deemed proper by the president or principal of such institutions, to enable the superintendent of public instruction to lay before the legisla- ture a fair and full exhibit of the affairs and conditions of said institutions, and of the educational resources of the state. [June 3— July 1, 1879.] (a) 1. Special School Laivs in City Charters and in Separate Acts. When certain sections in a city charter make the city a school district and require the city officers to perform certain duties in~relation to schools, the district and the officers are to be regarded^as the agencies chosen by the state to provide a system of free schools, and there are, in fact, two separate and distinct corporations with different purposes and objects. The one has its existence and is limited in the powers it may exercise by^its charter proper ; the other, by the school law. The laws on the subject of schools, whether in city charters, in amendments to charters or in separate acts not purporting to be a part^of|aJcharter, may be regarded as school laws — as part of the law intended to provide a system of free schools. [Speight v. People, 87 111., 595; Fuller v. Heath, 89 111., 296.] Two conclusions follow from the principles laid down by the supreme court in'these cases : (1) When the same charter creates a municipal^corporation and a school corporation, the organization of the municipal corporation under the general law in relation^to cities operates as a repeal of the municipal SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 215 charter proper, but does not modify or repeal the part of the charter relating to schools. [Fuller v. Heath, 89 111., 296.] (2). Since the special school law constitutes a part of the law intended to provide a system of free schools, it and the general law must be construed together. The school board under the special law is still subject to the general law, except in so far as the provisions of the special are different from those of the general law. Thus, in Board of Education v. Ar- nold, 112 111., 11, the supreme court held that the school board of Galesburg, though given by its special law exclusive man- agement and control of the schools of the district, inasmuch as it was not given power to examine teachers and grant them certificates, might lawfully employ such teachers only as held certificates granted under the general law. 2. Special School Laws given up. Section eighty provides a way by which a school organization under a special law may be abandoned and the district brought together under the gen- eral law ; and the course there laid down is the only way pro- vided by law for this purpose. It must be followed both when the schools are organized under a separate law and when they are under a law which stands on the statute book as a part of a city charter. 3. Special District may not he changed by School Trustees. When a district is established and its territory defined by an act of the legislature, unless it is so provided by the terms of the act, the trustees of schools may not change the bounda- ries of such district. [Schaefer v. People, 20 111., App. (20 Erad.), 605.] 4. Reports of Special Districts. Whether a special district should report to the county superintendent or to the township treasurer is usually determined by the special act under which it has been organized. If it reports as a district to the treas- urer, it should make its report on or before July 7th [Sec. 42.] ; but if it reports as a township to the county superintendent, it should report on or before July 15th [Sec. 36]. This is necessary in order that the reports of the trustees and the county superintendent may be made at the time named in the statute. If a special district reports to the county superin- tendent and yet receives funds from the trustees, it must give the trustees oflicial notice every year that it has had a legal 216 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. school, and state what numher of persons under twenty- one years of age it has. 5. Treasure?' of Special District. "When a special district has its own treasurer, according to its special law, he must, as a condition of receiving money from them, give the county su- perintendent or the township treasurer from whom he is to receive funds satisfactory evidence that he has been elected or appointed, and has given bond as the special law requires. 6. Residents of a Special District may not vote for Trustees, It is held that when a school district is created by a special act of the legislature, out of territory situated in one or more congressional townships, and a special school board is created, with corporate powers, the inhabitants of such special district can not vote at the regular township elections for township school trustees. The private law conferring corporate powers upon a portion of a township, negatives the right of the inhab- itants to be regarded as a part of the body politic of the school township. In a similar case in the city of Galena, the court decided that the inhabitants had no right to vote for school purposes outside of the city limits. 7. Tax Levy in Special Districts. Usually special school laws contain some provisions with regard to taxation for school pur- poses. These are modified by section forty-three. See, also, note (a), 2, under that section. 8. General Laivs regarding Special Districts. See sections 119-125. 80. School la-wr applicable to cities and villages. § 80. Incorporated cities and villages, except such as now have charge and control of free schools by special acts, shall be and remain parts of the school townships in which they are re- spectively situated, and be subject to the general provisions of the school law, except as otherwise provided in this section, {a) Board of education in districts of t^wo thousand in- habitants—First election— To succeed directors— Terms of office fixed. In all school districts havmg a population of not less than two thousand inhabitants, and not governed by any special act in relation to free schools now in force, there shall be elected, instead of the directors provided by law in other districts, a board of education, to consist of six mem- bers, and three additional members for every additional ten thousand inhabitants, to be elected in the manner provided by section forty-two of this act for the election of school directors. At the first election of directors succeeding the passage of this act, in any district having a population of not less than two SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 217 thousand inhabitants by the census of 1870, and in such other districts as may hereafter be ascertained by any special or general census to have a population of not less than two thousand inhabitants, at the first election of directors occurring after taldng such special or general census, there shall be elected a board of education, who shall be the successors of the di- rectors of the district; and all rights of property and rights and causes of action existing or vested in such directors shall vest in said board of education in as full and complete a man- ner as was vested in the school directors. Such board, at its first meeting, shall fix, by lot, the terms of office of its mem- bers, so that one-third shall serve for one year, one-third for two years, and one-third for three years ; and thereafter one- third of the members shall be elected annually, on the first Saturday in April, to fill the vacancies occurring, and to serve for the term of three years, (b) Po-wers and duties of board. Such board shall have power, and it shall be their duty, in addition to or inclusive of the powers and duties of school directors : First. — To establish and support free schools not less than six nor more than ten months in each year. Second. — To repair and improve school houses, and furnish them with the necessary fixtures, furniture, apparatus, libraries and fuel. Third. — To buy or lease sites for school houses, with the necessary grounds. Fourth. — To establish schools of different grades, and make regulations for the admission of pupils into the same. Fifth. — To levy a tax annually upon the taxable property of the district, in the manner provided by section forty-four of this act, for the purpose of supporting and maintaining free schools in accordance with the powers herein conferred : Pro- vided, that it shall not be lawful for such board of education to purchase or locate a school house site, to purchase, build or move a school house, or levy a tax to extend schools be- yond the period of ten months in each year, except upon peti- tion of a majority of the voters of the district. Sixth. — To examine and employ teachers, and fix the amount of their salaries. Seventh. — To employ, should they deem it expedient, a com- petent and discreet person or persons as superintendent or superintendents of schools, and fix and pay a proper salary or salaries therefor; and such superintendent may be required to act as principal or teacher in such schools. Eighth. — To lay off and divide the district into sub-districts, and from time to time to alter the same, create new ones and consolidate them. Ninth. — To visit all the public schools as often as once a month, to inquire into the progress of scholars, and the govern- —14 218 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. ment of the schools ; to prescribe the method and course of disciphne and instruction in the respective schools, and to see that they are maintained and pursued in the proper manner, (c) May expel pupils, remove teacliers, apportion scholars. They shall have power to expel any pupil who may be guilty of gross disobedience or misconduct, and to dismiss and remove any teacher, whenever, in their opinion, he or sha is not qualified to teach, or whenever from any cause the in- terests of the schools may, in their opinion, require such re- moval or dismission. They shall have power to apportion the scholars to the several schools. By-laws— Rules and regulations. It shall be the duty of the board of education to establish all such by-laws, rules and. regulations for the government, and for the establishment and maintenance of a proper and uniform system of discipline in the several schools, as may, in tbeir opinion, be necessary. Care of school property — Supplies. It shall be the duty of said board to take charge of the school houses, furni- ture, ground and other property belonging to the district, and see that the same are kept in good condition, and not suffered to be unnecessarily injured or deteriorated, and also to provide fuel and such other necessaries for the schools as, in their opinion, may be required in the school houses or other prop- erty belonging to the district. President— Secretary — Record — Yeas and nays. The said board shall appoint a president (who shall be one of their own number) and a secretary, and provide themselves with a well bound book, at the expense of the school tax fund, in which shall be kept a faithful record of all their proceedings. The yeas and nays shall be taken, and entered on the records of the proceedings of the board upon all questions involving the expenditure of money. Powers exercised only at meetings— Annual report. None of the powers herein conferred upon the board of educa- tion shall be exercised by them except at a regular or special meeting of the board. The board of education shall annually prepare and publish in some newspaper, or in pamphlet form, a report of the number of pupils instructed in the year pre- ceding, the several branches of education pursued by them, of the number of persons between the ages of twelve and twenty- one unable to read and write, and the receipts and expendi- tures of each school, specifying the source of such receipts and the objects of such expenditures. Conveyances— School fund subject to order of board. All conveyances of real estate shall be made to the township trustees, in trust for the use of schools, and no conveyance of any real estate or interest therein, used for school purposes or held in trust for schools, shall be made except by the board of trustees, upon the written request of such board of educa- tion. All moneys raised by taxation for school purposes or re- SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 219' ceived from the state common school fund or from any other source for school purposes, shall be held by the township treasurer as a special fund for school purposes, subject to the order of the board of education, upon warrants signed by the president and secretary thereof, (d) Special la"w may be abandoned — Organization under general law. Any city, incorporated town, township or dis- trict in which the free schools are now managed under any special act, may, by vote of its electors, cease to control such schools under such special act, and become a part of the school township in which it is situated, and subject to the control of the trustees thereof, under and according to the provisions of this act. Upon petition of fifty voters of such city, town, township or district, presented to the board having the control and management of schools in such city, town, township or district, it shall be the duty of such board at the next ensuing election to be held in such city, town, township or district, to cause to be submitted to the voters thereof, giving not less than fifteen days' notice thereof by posting not less than five notices in the most public places in such city, town, township or district, the question of "Organization under the Free School Law;" and if it shall appear, on a canvass of the returns of said election, that a majority of the votes cast at such election are "For Organization under the Free School Law," then at the next ensuing regular meeting of the board of trustees of the township or townships in which such city, incorporated town, township or district is situated, said trustees shall pro- ceed to redistrict the township or townships as aforesaid, in such manner as shall suit the wishes and convenience of a majority of the inhabitants in their respective townships, and to make a division of funds and other property in the manner provided by section thirty-three of this act, and at the next ensuing election of director, directors or a board of education^ as the case may be, shall be elected in each of the new dis- tricts so formed, as provided in section forty-two of this act. (e) Powers of board in cities of over one hundred thousand inhabitants exercised with concurrence of city council. In cities having a population exceeding one hundred thousand inhabitants, the board of education shall have charge and control of the public schools in such cities, and shall have power, with the concurrence of the city council — First. — To erect or purchase buildings suitable for school houses, and keep the same in repair. Second. — To buy or lease sites for school houses, with the. necessary grounds. Third. — To issue bonds for the purpose of building, furnish- ing and repairing school houses, for purchasing sites for the same, and to provide for the payment of said bonds ; to borrow money for school purposes upon the credit of the city. 220 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. Exclusive powers of the board. The board of ecluca- iion shall have power — First. — To furnish schools with the necessary fixtures, furni- ture and apparatus. Second. — To maintain, support and establish schools, and supply the inadequacy of the school funds, for the salaries of school teachers, from school taxes. Third. — To hire buildings or rooms for the use of the board. Fourth. — To hire buildings or rooms for the use of schools. Fifth. — To employ teachers and fix the amount of their com- pensation. Sixth. — To prescribe the school books to be used, and the studies in the different schools. Seventh. — To lay off and divide the city into school districts, and from time to time to alter the same and create new ones, as circumstances may require, and generally to have and pos- sess all the rights, powers and authority required for the proper management of schools, with power to enact such ordinances as may be necessary or deemed expedient for such purposes. Government and control of schools — Examination of teachers. Schools in such cities shall be governed as here- inafter stated, and no power given to the board shall be exer- cised by the city council. The board of education shall have the entire superintendence and control of the schools, and it shall be their duty to examine all persons offering themselves as candidates for teachers, and when found well qualified, to give them certificates thereof gratuitously ; to visit all the pub- lic schools as often as once a month ; to inquire into the pro- gress of scholars, and the government of the schools ; to pre- scribe the method and course of discipline and instruction in the respective schools, and to see that they are maintained and pursued in the proper manner; to prescribe what studies shall be taught, what books and apparatus shall be used. They shall have power to expel any pupil who may be guilty of gross disobedience or misconduct, and to dismiss and remove any teacher, whenever in their opinion he or she is not quali- fied to teach, or whenever from any cause the interests of the school may, in their opinion, require such removal or dis- mission. They shall have power to apportion the scholars to the several schools. It shall be their duty to establish all such by-laws, rules and regulations for the government and for the establishment and maintenance of a proper and uniform system of discipline in the several schools, as may, in their opinion, be necessary. They shall determine, from time to time, how many and what class of teachers may be employed in each of the public schools, and employ such teachers and fix their compensation. It shall be the duty of the said board to take charge of the school houses, furniture, ground and other prop- erty belonging to the school districts, and see that the same are kept in good condition and not suffered to be unnecessarily SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 221 injured or deteriorated, and also to provide fuel and such other necessaries for the schools as in their opinion may be re- quired in the school houses or other property belonging to said districts. Manner of conducting- business and records. The said board shall appoint a president and secretary, the presi- dent to be appointed from their own number, and shall ap- point such other oflicers and employes as such board shall deem necessary, and shall prescribe their duties and compen- sation and terms of office ; and the said board shall provide well bound books, at the expense of the school tax fund, in which shall be kept a faithful record of all their proceedings. The yeas and nays shall be taken and entered on the records of the proceedings of the board, upon all questions involving* the expenditure of money. None of the powers herein con- ferred upon the board of education shall be exercised by them except at a regular meeting of the board. Reports. It shall be the duty of the board to report to the city council, from time to time, any suggestions that they deem expedient or requisite in relation to the schools and the school fund, or the management thereof, and generally to recommend the establishment of such schools and districts. The board of education shall prepare and publish an annual report, which shall include the receipts and expenditures of each school, specifying the source of such receipts, and the object of such expenditures. They shall also communicate to the city council, from time to time, such information within their possession as may be required. Leases — Loans— Conveyances. They shall have power to lease school property and to loan moneys belonging to the school fund ; but all conveyances of real estate shall be made to the city in trust for the use of schools, and no sale of reai estate or interest therein used for school purposes or held in trust for schools, shall be made except by the city council^ upon the written request of such board of education. Funds held by city treasurer subject to order of board — City not liable. All moneys raised by taxation for school purposes, or received from the state common school fund, or from any other source for school purposes, shall be held by the city treasurer as a special fund for school pur- poses, subject to the order of the board of education, upon- warrants to be countersigned by the mayor and city clerk ; but said board of education shall not add to the expenditures for school purposes anything over and above the amount that shall be received from the state common school fund, the rental of school lands, and the amount annually appropriated for such purposes. If said board shall so add to such ex- penditures the city shall not, in any case, be liable therefor. Appointment of board— Vacancy. From and after the time this act shall take effect, the board of education in such 222 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. cities shall consist of j&fteen members, to be appointed by the mayor, by and with the advice and consent of the common council, five of whom shall be appointed for the term of one year; five for the term of two years, and five for the term of three years ; and at the expiration of the term of any mem- bers of said board their successors shall be appointed in like manner. Any vacancy which may occur shall be filled by the appointment of the mayor, with the approval of the common council, for the unexpired term. Any person having resided in such city more than five years next preceding his appoint- ment, shall be eligible to said office. Board not to levy taxes. Nothing herein shall be so construed as to authorize any board of education to levy or collect taxes, or to require the city council to levy and collect any tax upon the demand or under the direction of such board ■of education. (/) (a) Incorporated Cities and Villages under the General School Law. The change from directors to a board of education is, in one sense, a mere change in local autonomy ; none of the powers previously exercised are lost, none of the restrictions previously imposed are abated by the change, and no new powers are acquired except such as are specifically conferred by this section. (y) 1, Special or General Census. A general census is one taken all over the state by state or national authority. The statute does not enjoin upon any one the taking of a special census in order to ascertain whether a district has the pre- scribed population ; it is left optional with the local authori- ties to take such special census or not. It is held that such census may be taken either by the board of directors of the 'district, or by order of the board- of trustees of the township in which such district is situated. If the census is taken by the directors, their resolution or order requiring it to be done, should be duly spread upon their records ; and when the enumeration is completed, the result, ^showing the number of inhabitants found to be in the district, ;should also be entered of record by the clerk of the board. If the number is found to equal or exceed two thousand, then, at some stated or special meeting an order should be made :and recorded that a board of education be elected at the next ensuing election of directors. If the special census is taken by order of the trustees, the result, duly certified and sworn to by the person or persons employed to do the work, should be filed by the trustees with the board of directors, whose duty SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 223 it will then be to take the necessary steps for the election of a board of education in and for said district, as aforesaid. If after the filing of such certified statement the directors refuse or neglect to order the election of a board of education, as re- quired by law, it will become the duty of the township treas- urer to order such election, as provided by the forty-second section of this act in respect to other cases of default on the part of directors. And the election held in pursuance of such order by the treasurer will be legal and valid, the same as if held by order of the directors, and the board of education so elected will be duly authorized, and it will be their duty, to proceed to organize and take charge of the schools of the dis- trict, as enjoined by law. I am authorized to say that the attorney general concurs in the foregoing opinion. 2. Time of the Election. The first election must be, as pro- vided in Sec. 42, on the third Saturday in April ; subsequent elections will come on the first Saturday. 3. Election of President. For statute requiring election of president, see Sec. 116. 4. Vacancy in the Board. Since there is no special pro- vision in the statute for filling vacancies in a board of educa- tion, the same rule must be followed with regard to them as with regard to vacancies in a board of directors. [Sec. 42 and note {a), 8.] (c) 1. Powers and Duties of School Boards. As stated in note (a), above, the change from a board of directors to a board of education does not involve to any great extent a change of the powers and actions of the governing board. No attempt is made in this section to give an exhaustive enumer- ation of these powers and duties. In commenting upon them, for the most part, subjects already discussed will not be con- sidered again ; and so for many matters of common interest i>o boards of education and boards of directors, the reader is referred to §§ 34, 35, 39, 42-54, 63, 67, and the notes upon them. 2. Term of School. The minimum term of a legal school in a district of not less than two thousand inhabitants is six months. [Compare § 48 and see § 34.] 3. Tax Levy. The levy is restricted to two per cent, for educational and three per cent, for building purposes, for the power given here to raise money must be exercised subject to 224 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. the limitation of section forty-three, since there is no intima- tion in the section that it is not subject thereto. 4. Petition needed to authorize Board to act. A petition by a majority of the legal voters of the district is necessary to- give the board of education power to locate a school site^ build a school house or extend schools beyond the maximum of ten months. Similar powers are exercised by the board of directors when the propositions to build, etc., have been duly submitted to vote and have prevailed. [Sec. 48 and note (/); also Sec. 42, iiote (a), 3.] 5. Vote needed to authorize the Board to act upon Certain Other Propositions. But the board of education can borrow money or refund outstanding loans, only by submitting these propositions to a vote just as a board of directors must. [Ibid.] As to introducing "other branches, including music and drawing," the board of education has the same power as the- board of directors ; the board may act of its own motion, or the proposition may be submitted to a vote. [Sec. 50 and note if).] 6. Examination oj Teachers. Boards of education are held to possess substantially the same rights and powers, and to be charged with about the same duties, in respect to the em- ployment of teachers, as ordinary boards of school directors. They cannot employ, or pay from any school fund, a teacher who does not hold a certificate granted by the county superin- tendent, but they are not required to accept such certificate as final and conclusive ; they are not debarred the privilege (possessed by all boards of directors) of inquiring further into the character and abilities of the teacher, and accepting or re- jecting him according to the result of such further inquiry.. Indeed it is made the duty of the board to institute such ad- ditional and independent examination into the fitness and worthiness of the persons whom they propose to employ as teachers, and to govern themselves accordingly. But a regular certificate from the county superintendent of schools is never- theless to be understood as a condition precedent to the legal employment or payment of a teacher. 7. Removal of Teachers. The board of education seems ta be given larger powers than school directors in regard to dis- SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 225 missing teachers ; but the courts have not passed upon the meaning of the language used in the statute in this connec- tion. (d) 1. President of the Board. The provision of the act of July 17, 1887, will require the election of a president of the board of education by the people in all the districts in which the schools are operated under this part of Sec. 80. [Sec. 116.] 2. Secretary of the Board. The secretary of the board of education may be a member of the board, or he may be some other person. The secretary may be paid for clerical services, as the clerk of the board of directors may. [Sec. 42.] 3. Report published. School directors make their report to the voters at the annual election, and they also post at that time, upon the door of the building where the election is held, the two preceding semi-annual statements received from the town- ship treasurer. [Sec. 42 and note (c) ; Sec. 63 and note (6).] This published report is in place of what is required of the directors. 4. Sale of Real Estate. Eeal estate held by the trustees of schools for a district under a board of education may be dis- posed of by the trustees , on the written request of the board. No petition by the voters is needed, as in the case of a dis- trict under a board of directors. [Sec. 39 and note (c).] {e) Surrender of a Special School Law. A special school law may be repealed by the legislature; and the effect of such a repeal would be to restore the statu quo of the time when the special law was enacted. But if the special law is given up in the way provided in this section, the effect is to open up the whole township (or townships if the special district be in more than one township) to be redistricted, the trustees hav- ing the same power as in a newly organized township under the first clause of Sec. 33. Another effect is to vest the title to the property of the origi- nal district in the trustees of schools of the township, and to transfer its funds to the township treasurer, if they had been held in some other name or by other hands. When the trustees have in this way reorganized the town- ship, or any part of it — for they need not, unless they deem it better so to do, disturb the other districts — they must call an election in the new district or districts, etc., etc., as provided in Sec. 33. "226 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISONS. (/) Cities ivith over One Hundred Thousand Inhabitants. This part of the section appHes to the city of Chicago alone, and is, therefore, passed without comment. COMMON SCHOOL LANDS. What are common school lands. § 81. Section number sixteen in every township granted to the state by the United States for the use of schools, and such sections and parts of sections as have been or may be granted, as aforesaid, in lieu of all or part of section number sixteen, and also the lands which have been or may be selected and granted as aforesaid, for the use of schools to the inhabitants of fractional town- ships, in which there is no section number sixteen, or where such section shall not contain the proper proportion for the use of schools in such fractional townships, shall be held as common school lands ; and the provisions of this act referring to com- mon school lands, shall be deemed to apply to the lands afore- said, (a) (a) Common School Lands. See note (a). Sec. 66 for some account of these lands. These lands, with the exception of a few acres, were sold years ago, and the sections of the law relating to them and their sale will be passed with but few comments. 82. Business transacted w^here — Trespass — Fines paid to township treasurer. § 82. All the business of such townships, so far as relates to common school lands, shall be transacted in that county which contains all or a greater portion of said lands. If any person shall, without being duly authorized, cut, fell, box, bore, destroy or carry away any tree, sapling or log, standing or being upon any school lands, such person shall forfeit and pay for every tree, sapling or log so felled, boxed, bored, destroyed or carried away, the sum of eight dollars ; which penalty shall be recovered with costs of suit, by an action of debt or assumpsit before any justice of the peace having jurisdiction of the amount claimed, or in the county or circuit court, either in the corporate name of the board of trustees of the township to which the land be- longs, or by action of qui tarn, in the name of any person who will first sue for the same — -one-half for the use of the person suing, the other half to the use of the township aforesaid. When two or more persons shall be concerned in the same trespass, they shall be jointly and severally liable for the penalty herein imposed. Every trespasser upon common school lands shall be liable to indictment, and upon conviction, fined in three times the amount of the injury occasioned by said trespass and shall stand committed as in other cases of misdemeanor. All penalties and fines collected under the provisions of this SCHOOL LA.WS AND DECISIONS. 227 section shall be paid to the township treasurer, and be added io the principal of the township fand. Disposition of other funds. And all other fines, penal- ties and forfeitures imposed or incurred in any of the courts of record, or before any justice of the peace of this State, ex- cept fines, forfeitures and penalties incurred or imposed in in- corporated towns or cities, for the violation of the by-laws or ordinances thereof, shall, when collected, be paid to the school superintendent of the county wherein such fines, forfeitures and penalties have been imposed or incurred, who shall give his receipt therefor; and the same shall be distributed by said superintendent, annually, in the same manner as the common school funds of the state are distributed. Duty of officers. And it shall be the duty of the state's attorneys of the several judicial circuits to enforce the collection ■of all fines, forfeitures and penalties imposed or incurred in the courts of record in their several circuits, and to pay the same over to the school superintendents of the counties wherein the .same have been imposed or incurred, retaining therefrom the fees and commissions allowed them by law ; and it shall be the duty of the said justices of the peace to enforce the col- lection of all fines imposed by them, by any lawful means ; and when collected, the same shall be paid by the officer charged with the collection thereof to the school superintend- ent of the county in which the same was imposed. Clerks of said courts of record, state's attorneys and justices of the peace, shall report, under oath, to the school superintendent of their respective counties, by the first of March, annually, ihe amount of such fines, penalties and forfeitures imposed or incurred in their respective courts, and the amount of such fines, forfeitures and penalties collected by them, giving each item separately.* Penalty for neglect of duty. And the officer charged with the collection thereof, and said clerks, state's attorneys and justices of the peace, for a failure to make such report, shall be liable to a fine of twenty- five dollars for each offense, to be recovered in a civil action, at the suit of the school superintendent of the proper county. For a failure to pay any such fine, forfeitures or penalties, on demand, to the person who is by law authorized to receive the same, the officer hav- ing collected the same, or having the same in his possession, shall forfeit and pay double the amount of such fine, penalty or forfeiture, as aforesaid, to be recovered before any court having jurisdiction thereof, in a qui tarn action — one-half to be paid to the informer and one-half to the school fund of the ^proper county, (a) Form No. 45. 228 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS, (a) Fines and Forfeitures. It is the duty of state's attorneys to attend to the collection of all fines, forfeitures and penalties imposed in any court of record in their respective counties. It is the duty of the justices of the peace to collect all fines imposed by them. These ofiicers and the clerks of courts of record must report annually, under oath, the amount of the fines, forfeitures and penalties imposed or incurred in their respective courts, and the amount collected, giving each item separately. Clerks of courts of record are not made by law the collectors of fines, forfeitures and penalties; and if any such are paid them they should turn them over to the state's attorney, who is by law the collector. A justice of the peace having collected any fines, etc., in cases where judgment was procured by the state's attorney,. may pay them to him on his demand, since he has a lien upon them, according to Sec. 8, Chap. 53, Rev. Stat. But such fines, etc., when they have not been paid to the state's attor- ney, and all other fines, etc., collected by the justice must be paid to the county superintendent of his county, as the law directs. The state's attorney retains so much of the fines, etc., col- lected by him, on judgments procured by him, as may be suffi- cient to pay him the uncollected fees and the commissions al- lowed him in the section cited above, and must pay the balance- to the county superintendent of his county. If his own col- lections of fines, etc., are not enough to pay his lawful fees not collected and commissions, the state's attorney may claim of the county superintendent any fines, etc., paid him by any justice for which judgment was procured by him, the state's attorney; but he may not appropriate or claim in payment of his fees and commissions any fines, etc., whether collected by himself or by another person, judgment for which was not pro- cured by him. There are two penalties in connection with this matter : One' for a failure to report each fine, etc., which has been imposed or incurred or collected during the year; and the other for a failure to pay over, on demand, to the person entitled to receive it, the amount of such collections. The penalty in the first instance is twenty-five dollars ; in the second double the amount illegally retained. SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 229 SALE OF COMMON SCHOOL LANDS. 83. Petition for sale. § 83. When the inhabitants of any township, or fractional township, shall desire the sale of the common school lands of the township, or fractional town- ship, they shall present a petition to the county superintend- ent of the county in which the school lands of the township, or the greater part thereof, lie, for the sale thereof; which petition shall be signed by at least two-thirds of the legal voters of the township, or fractional township, of and over twenty- one years of age. The signing of the petition must be in the presence of two citizens of the township, after the true mean- ing thereof shall have been explained ; and when signed, an aftidavit shall be fixed thereto by the two citizens proving the signing, the manner aforesaid, and stating the number of in- habitants in the township, or fractional township, of and over twenty-one years of age ; and said petition, so proved, shall be delivered to the county superintendent for his action thereon: Provided, that no whole section shall be sold in any township containing less than two hundred inhabitants ; and common school lands in fractional townships may be sold when the number of inhabitants and number of acres are in the ratio of two hundred to six hundred and forty, but not before, (a) (a) 1. Sales of School Lands. The general assembly made provision for the sale of school lands in 1829, at the same time asking congress to grant the state power to make the sales. The power was not granted by congress until 1843 ; but the general assembly passed a second act in 1831, and the sales were begun in August of that year. Acts of congress of 1842 and 1843, ratified and confirmed sales already made. The supreme court also held that the legislature had power to order sales. [Bradley v. Case, 3 Scammon, 585.] 2. Division of a Toivnship. If a part of a school township is set off to another township by the legislature and no divi- sion of the township fund or of the school lands is provided for in the act, the original township will retain the whole of the sixteenth section or of the fund. [People v. Trustees, 86 111., 613.] 84. Fractional township attached to neighbor. § 84. Any fractional township not having the requisite number of inhabitants to petition for the sale of the school lands therein, as provided in section eighty-three, which has not heretofore been united with any other township for school purposes, and which does not contain a sufficient number of inhabitants to maintain a free school, is hereby attached to the adjacent congressional township having the longest territorial line bor- dering on such fractional township, for school purposes; and 230 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. all the provisions of this act shall apply to such united town- ships the same as though they were one and the same town- ship. 85. Trustees notified — To make division— Plat — Val- uation — Delivery to county superintendent. § 85. When the petition and affidavits are delivered to the county- superintendent, as aforesaid, he shall notify the trustees of said township thereof, and said trustees shall immediatdly pro- ceed to divide the land into tracts or lots, of such form and quantity as will produce the largest amount of money. After making such division, a correct plat of the same shall be mad& representing all divisions, with each lot numbered and defined so that its Ijoundaries may be forever ascertained. Said trust- ees shall then fix a value on each lot, having regard to the- terms of sale, certify to the correctness of the plat, stating the value of each lot per acre, or per lot, if less than one acre,, and referring to and describing the lot in the certificate, so as fully and clearly to distinguish and identify each lot ; which plats and certificate shall be delivered to the county superin- tendent, and shall govern him in advertising and selling said, lands. 86. Manner of sub-dividing. § 86, In sub-dividing common school lands for sale, no lot shall contain more than eighty acres, and the division may be made into town or vil- lage lots, with roads, streets or alleys between them and through the same ; and all such divisions, with all similar di- visions hereafter made, are hereby declared legal, and all such roads, streets and alleys public highways, 87. Terms of sale. § 87. The terms of selling common^ school lands shall be to the highest bidder, for cash, with the privilege to each purchaser of borrowing from the county su- perintendent the amount of his bid, for any period not less than one nor more than five years, upon his paying interest and giving security, as in case of money loaned by township- treasurer, as provided by this act. 88. Place of sale — Advertisement. § 88. The place of selling common school lands shall be at the court house of the county in which the lands are situated; or the trustees of schools may direct the sale to be made on the premises ; and upon the reception by the county superintendent of the plat and certificate of valuation from the trustees, he shall proceed to advertise the said land for sale in lots, as divided and laid off by said trustees, by posting notices thereof in at least six public places in the county, forty days next anterior to the day of sale, describing the land and stating the time, terms and place of sale ; and if any newspaper is published in said county, said advertisement shall be printed therein, for four weeks before the day of sale ; if none, then it shall be sold under the notice aforesaid. SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 231 89. Sale. § 89. Upon the day appointed, the county su- perintendent shall proceed to make sales as follows, viz : He shall begin at the lowest number of lots and proceed regularly to the highest, till all are sold or offered. No lot shall be sold for less than its valuation by the trustees. Sale shall be made between the hours of ten o'clock A. M. and six o'clock P. M., and may continue from day to day. The lots shall be cried separately, and each lot cried long enough to enable any one present to bid who desires it. 90. Closing up sales — Settlement vrith delinquent purchaser. § 90. Upon closing the sales each day, the pur- chasers shall each pay or secure the payment of the purchase money, according to the terms of sale ; or, in case of his fail- ure to do so by ten o'clock the succeeding day, the lot pur- chased shall again be offered at public sale on the same terms as before, and if the valuation or more shall be bid, shall be stricken off; but if the valuation be not bid, the lot shall be set down as not sold. If the sale is or is not made the for- mer purchaser shall be required to pay the difference between his bid and the valuation of the lot ; and in case of his fail- ing to make such payment the county superintendent may forthwith institute an action of debt or assumpsit, in his name,, as superintendent, for the use of the inhabitants of the town- ship where the land lies, for the required sum ; and upon mak- ing proof, shall be entitled to judgment, with costs of suit ; which, when collected, shall be added to the principal of the township fund. And if the amount claimed does not exceed one hundred dollars, the suit may be instituted before a justice of the peace ; but if more than that sum, then in the circuit court of any county wherein the party may be found. 91. Private sale. § 91. All lands [not] sold at public sale, as herein provided for, shall be subject to sale at any time thereafter, at the valuation ; and county superintendents are authorized and required, when in their power, to sell all such lands at private sale, upon the terms at which they are offered at public sale. 92. Valuation vacated— Second valuation. § 92. In all cases where common school lands have been heretofore valued, and have remained unsold for two years, after having been offered for sale, or shall hereafter remain unsold for that length of time, after being valued and offered for sale in con- formity to this act, the trustees of schools where such lands are situated may vacate the valuation thereof, by an order to be entered in book A, of the county superintendent, and cause a new valuation to be made, if, in their opinion, the interest of the township will be promoted thereby. They shall make said second valuation in the same manner as the first was made, and shall deliver to the county superintendent a plat of such second valuation, with the order of vacation, to be entered as aforesaid; whereupon said county superintendent shall pro- 232 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. ceed in selling said lands in all respects as if no former valu- ation had been made : Provided, that the second valuation may be made by the trustees of schools, without petition as provided in this act. 93. Entry of sale— Certificate. § 93. Upon the com- pletion of every sale by the purchaser, the county superintend- ent shall enter the same on book B, and shall deliver to the purchaser a certificate of purchase, stating therein the name and residence of the purchaser, describing the land and price paid therefor ; which certificate shall be evidence of the facts therein stated,* 94. Annual statement of superintendent to county board. § 94. At the first regular term of the county board, in each year, the county superintendent shall present to the county board of his county : First. — A statement showing the sales of school lands made subsequent to the first regular term of the previous year, which shall be a true copy of the sale book (book B). Second. — Statements of the amount of money received, paid, loaned out and in hand, belonging to each township or fund under his control — the statement of each fund to be separate. Third. — Statements copied from his loan book (book C), showing all the facts in regard to loans which are required to be stated on the loan book. All of which the county board shall thereupon examine and compare with the vouchers. And the said county board, or so many of them as may be present at the term of the court, shall be liable, individually, to the fund injured, and to the securities of said county superintendent, in case judgment be recovered of said securities, for all damages occasioned by a neglect of the duties, or any of them, required of them by this section : Provided, nothing herein contained shall be construed to exempt the securities of said county superintendent from any liability as such securities, but they shall still be liable to the fund injured, the same as if the county superintendents were not liable. 95. Transcript of sales to auditor. § 95. The county superintendent shall, also, at the time aforesaid, transmit to the auditor of public accounts a full and exact transcript, from book B, of all the sales made subsequent to each report. The statement required to be presented to the county board shall be preserved and copied by the clerk of said court ipto a well- bound book kept for that purpose ; and the list transmitted to the auditor shall be filed, copied and preserved in like manner. 96. Patent for school lands. § 96. Every purchaser of common school land shall be entitled to a patent from the state, conveying and assuring the title. Patents shall be made * Form No. 46. SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 233 out by the auditor, from returns made to him by the county superintendent. They shall contain a description of the land granted, and shall be in the name of and signed by the gover- nor, countersigned by the auditor, with the great seal of the state affixed thereto by the secretary of state, and shall operate to vest in the purchaser a perfect title in fee simple. When pat- ents are executed as herein required, the auditor shall note on the list of sales the date of each patent, in such manner as to perpetuate the evidence of its date and delivery, and there- upon transmit the same to the county superintendent of the proper county, to be by him delivered to the patentee, his heirs or assigns, upon the return of the original certificate of pur- chase ; which certificate, when returned, shall be filed and pre- served by the county superintendent ; and all such patents, heretofore or hereafter so issued by the state for school lands, or duly certified copies thereof from any record legally made, shall, after the lapse of ten years from the date of such pat- ent, and such sale having been acquiesced in for ten years by the inhabitants of the township in which the land so conveyed may be situated, be conclusive evidence as to the legality of the sale, and that the title to such land was, at the date of "the patent, legally vested in the patentee. 97. Copies to supply loss of originals. § 97. Pur- chasers of common school lands, and their heirs and assigns, may obtain duplicate copies of their certificates of purchase and of patents, upon filing affidavit with the county superin- tendent in respect to certificates, and v/ith the auditor in re- spect to patents, proving the loss or destruction of the orig- inals ; and such copies shall have all the force and effect of the originals, (a) (a) Duplicate Copies of Patents. The term "duplicate," as here used, means "certified." The auditor is required to issue a certified copy of the patent as he may of any other paper shown in the files and records of his office. [Jackson v. Berner, 48 111., 203.] 98. Repeal. § 98, "An act to establish and maintain a system of free schools," approved February 16, 1857; "An act to establish and maintain a system of free schools," approved February 22, 1861 ; "An act to establish and maintain a system of free schools in the State of Illinois," approved February 16, 1865; "An act to amend an act entitled 'An act to establish and maintain a system of free schools in the State of Illinois,' approved February 16, 1865," approved February 28, 1867; "An act to amend the school law," approved March 30, 1869; "An act relating to assessments and taxation in school dis- tricts," approved March 29, 1869; "An act concerning reports of school officers and of the incorporated institutions of learn- ing," approved March 29, 1869; and all other acts and parts —15 234 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. of acts inconsistent with this act and all general school laws of this state, are hereby repealed. ADDITIONAL ACTS. An Act to authorize the election of women as school of&cers. [April 3— July 1, 1873.] 99. Women eligible to school offices. Section 1. Be it enacted by the People of the IState of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly: That any women, married or single, of the age of twenty-one years and upwards, and possessing the qualifications prescribed for men, shall be eligible to any office under the general or special school laws of this state. 100. Oath. — Bond. § 2. That any woman elected or ap- pointed to any office under the provisions of this act, before she enters upon the discharge of the duties of the office, shall qualify and give bond as required by law, and such bond shall be binding upon her and her securities. An Act to secure to all children the benefit of elementary education. [June 23 -July 1, 1883.] 101. Who must send children to school. Section 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented- in the General Assembly: That every person having the control and charge of any child or children between the ages of eight and fourteen years, shall send such child or children to a pub- lic or private school for a period of not less than twelve weeks in each school year, unless such child or children are excused from attending school by the board of education or school directors of the city, town or school district in which such child or children reside. Such excuse may be given by said board of education or school directors for any good cause shown why said child or children shall not be required to attend school in conformity with this act. 102. Exemptions. § 2. It shall be a good defense to any suit brought under this aci, if the person under whose control such child or children are, can show that the mental or bodily condition of such child or children is such as to pre- vent its attendance at school or application to study for the period required by this act, or, that such child or children has been taught in a private school, or at home for the time re- quired by this act, in such branches as are ordinarily taught in primary or other schools, or has acquired the branches of learning ordinarily taught in public schools, or that no public school has been taught within two miles, by the nearest trav- eled road, of the residence of such child or children, within the school district in which said child or children reside, for twelve weeks during the year. 103. Penalties. § 3. If any person having the control and charge of any child or children shall fail or neglect to SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 235 comply with the provisions of this act, said person shall pay a fine of not less than five nor more than twenty dollars. Suit for the recovery of the fine and costs shall be brought by any director, or member of any board of education, of the dis- trict in which such person resided, at the time of the commit- tal of the offense, before any justice of the peace of said town- ship. Jurisdiction is hereby conferred on all justices of the peace in this state for the enforcing of this act. Such fine shall be paid, when collected, to the school treasurer of said township, to be accounted for by him as other school money raised for school purposes. g^^^^ 104. School ofiBcers must enforce law. § 4. It'^is hereby made the duty of school directors and members of the boards of education to prosecute offenses occurring under this act. The neglect so to prosecute by any school director, or member of any board of education, within twenty days after written notice has been served on such director, or member of such board of education, by any tax-payer residing in such dis- trict, that any person has violated this act, shall subject him or them to a fine of ten dollars, to be sued for by any tax- payer residing in the school district where the violation of this act occurred, before any justice of the peace in the township where the said school district may be located ; and when such fine is collected it shall be reported by said treasurer, and ac- counted for as other money raised for school purposes, and become a part of the school fund of said township. An Act to protect colored children in their rights to attend public schools. [March 24— July 1, 1874.] 105. May not be excluded for color. Section 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly: That all directors of schools, boards of education, or school officers, whose duty it now is, or may be hereafter, to provide in their respective jurisdictions schools for the education of all children between the ages of six and twenty-one years, are prohibited from excluding, directly or in- directly, any- such child from such school on account of the color of such child, (a) (a) Rights of Colored Children. In a case which came be- fore the supreme court before this act was passed, it was held that : "The free schools of the state are public institutions, and in their management and control the law contemplates that they should be so managed that all children within the district between the ages of six and twenty-one years, regardless of race or color, shall have equal and the same right to partici- pate in the benefits to be derived therefrom. ^36 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. "While the directors, very properly, have large and discre- tionary powers in regard to the management and control of schools, in order to increase their usefulness, they have no power to make class distinctions, neither can they discriminate between scholars on account of their color, race or social posi- tion." And, after saying that in this case the sole object of the directors seems to have been to exclude the colored children from the benefits of free schools, and that the question of separate schools with equal facilities when there were white children enough for one school, and colored children enough for another was not passed upon, the court adds : "But the conduct of the directors in this case in the attempt to keep and maintain a school solely to instruct three or four colored children of the district, when they can be accommo- dated at the school house with the other scholars of the dis- trict, can only be regarded as a fraud upon the tax-payers of the district, any one of whom has a right to interfere to pre- vent the public funds from being squandered in such a reckless, unauthorized manner." [Chase v. Stephenson, 71 111., 383.] In The People v. Board of Education, 101 111., 308, it appeared from the information that the board of education of the city of Quincy had divided the city into eight school districts, in €ach of which colored children resided ; that under the rules adopted, these colored children were excluded from the public schools in the district where they resided, and were required to attend a school composed exclusively of colored children known as the Lincoln school, and that, under the operation of these rules, a colored child could not attend the school in the district where such child resided on account of its color, but was compelled to travel several miles, perhaps, to a distant part of the city to a colored school. Upon this state of facts the court held: "This is a direct violation of the statute, which says the board is prohibited from excluding, directly or indirectly, any such child from such school on account of color. Under the rules no reason is assigned which prohibits a colored child from attending the school in the district where it resides, ex- cept on account of its color. "Whether our constitution, and the acts of the legislature passed in pursuance of it which place all children, regardless of color, upon a perfect equality so far as admission into the public schools is concerned, are to be regarded as wise or un- wise legislation, is a matter with which courts have no con- em. We are bound to declare the law as we find it written, SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 237 and if it is not satisfactory to any section of the state, the remedy is in the legislative department of the government, and there alone. "In conclusion, we are of opinion that the bord of education of the city of Quincy had no authority to adopt and enforce the rules set out in the information." 106. Penalty for exclusion. § 2. Any such school offi- cer or of&cers as are mentioned in the foregoing section, or any other person, who shall exclude, or aid in the exclusion from the public schools [of] any child who is entitled to the benefits of such school, on account of such child's color, shall be fined, upon conviction, in any sum not less than five nor more than one hundred dollars each, for every such offense. 107. Penalty for menace. § 3. Any person who shall^ by threats, menace or intimidation, prevent any colored child entitled to attend a public school in this state from attending such school, shall, upon conviction be fined in any sum not exceeding twenty-five dollars. An Act regulating the renting and sale of school lands. [May 25— July 1, 1877.] 108. Trustees may rent lands. Section 1. Beitefiacted by the Peojjle of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly: That it shall be lawful for the trustees or schools in townships in which section number sixteen (16), of any other lands in lieu thereof, remain unsold, or which has title to any other school lands whatsoever, to rent or lease the same for an annual rent, to be paid in money to the treasurer, by a written contract made by the president and secretary under the directions of the board, with the lessee or lessees, which contract shall be filed with the records of the board, and a copy of the same transmitted to the county superintendent ; and in case of any default in the payment of rent, the said board of trustees shall at once proceed to collect the same by distress or otherwise, as may be provided by law for the col- lection of rents by landlords. No lease taken under the provi- sions of this act, shall be for a longer period than five years, except where such lands are leased for the purpose of having permanent improvements made thereon, as may be the case in cities and villages : Provided, that the provisions of this act shall not apply to cities having a population of over one hundred thousand (100,000) inhabitants. [June 29— July 1, 1885.J An Act to empower township trustees to sell and convey right of way and depot grounds for the use of railroads crossing; school lands. [April 13-July 1, 1875.] 109. Trustees may sell right of way. Section 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly: That the trustees of schools of any township 238 SCHOOL LA.WS AND DECISIONS. concerned are hereby authorized and empowered, in their cor- porate capacity, to sell and convey to any railroad company which may construct a railroad across any of the public school lands of such township, the right of way and necessary depot grounds. All money received by such trustees for any right of way or depot ground so sold, to be turned over by such trust- ees to the treasurer of the township, for school purposes. An Act to empower trustees of schools to lay out and dedicate common school lands for street and highway purposes. [June 3— July 1, 1877.] 110. Trustees may dedicate land for streets. Section 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, repre- sented in the General Assembly.- That the trustees of schools of any township are hereby authorized and empowered, in their corporate capacity, to lay out and dedicate to the public use for street and highway purposes, so much of the common school lands, which is unimproved or unoccupied with buildings, as may be necessary to open or extend any street or highway which may be ordered opened or extended by the municipal authorities, which are by law empowered to open or extend streets or highways in the territory where said school lands are located : Provided, that said trustees of schools shall be of the opinion that the benefits to accrue from the opening or extending of said street or highway, to the remainder of said common school lands, will compensate for the use of the strip so dedicated : And, provided, fart her, ihsui it shall not be lawfu for any street or other railroad to lay down railroad tracks on any strip of the common school land so dedicated, or use the same or any part of the common school lands for railroad or street railroad purposes, except upon the purchase or lease of the same from proper authorities or upon the payment to the school fund of said township of the value of such use or land taken, the same as if no street or highway had been laid out thereon, to be determined by proceedings under an act entitled ""An act to provide for the exercise of the right of eminent do- main," approved April 10, 1872, and all amendments thereto: And, provided, farther, that this bill shall not in any way affect existing leases or contracts for the lease or purchase of com- mon school lands. An Act to legalize school districts organized under the thirty- third section of "An act to estabhsh and maintain a system of free schools," approved April 1, 1872. [May 25— July 1, 1877.] 111. Districts organized under section 33 legalized. Section 1. Beit enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly: That all school districts "which have been organized as such, under the provisions of section thirty-three of "An act to establish and maintain a SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 239 system of free schools for the State of Illinois," approved April 1, 1872, are hereby legalized, and such school districts shall be held and considered legally organized school districts for all purposes originally contemplated. An Act to provide a way by which the people of any territory lying within three or more school districts, and in three or more townships, containing not less than four hundred in- habitants, may be organized into a school district. [June 18— July 1, 1883.] 112. When and how formed. Section 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the Gen- eral Assembly: That when the people in any territory lying in three or more school districts, and in three or more townships, which territory has not less than four hundred inha6itants, shall petition the trustees of the township or townships in which ihe districts affected lie, to organize said territory into a school district, the trustees shall grant the petition, and shall organize said territory into a school district, provided the petition shall be signed by not less than two-thirds of the legal voters living in said territory : Provided, also, that the petition or petitions for such new district shall be presented to the trustees and notice of them given to the directors of the districts affected, in the manner fixed by section thirty-three, of the general school law, for presenting and giving notice of petitions for changes of district boundaries ; and that a division of property and adjustment of existing debts between the new district and the district or districts a part of whose territory is taken, shall be made in the way provided in said section thirty-three, for the division of property and the adjustment of debts when a new district is formed : Provided, further, that in the forma- tion of a new district under this act, territory shall not be taken from any existing district so as to leave it with less than twenty families residing within that part of the district not iaken, nor with taxable property of an assessed value less than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), as ascertained by the last as- sessment for state and county taxes, previous to the presenta- tion of the petitions for the new district. When a district is organized under this act it shall be the duty of the trustees to order an election of a school board in the newly constituted district, in the manner provided in the general school law for calling elections in new districts ; and it shall be the duty of the clerk or clerks of the trustees to file a map or maps and records, as provided in section thirty-three of the school law, in case of changes of district lines. An Act to regulate the payment of moneys into the hands of township school treasurers. [May 30— July 1, 1881.] 113. Trustees and school boards to be notified of payment to treasurers. Section 1. Be it enacted hy the 240 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. People oj the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assem- bly:* That it shall be the duty of county treasurers, county superintendendents of schools, township collectors, and all other persons paying money into the hands of township school treas- urers, for school purposes, on or before the thirteenth day of September of each year, to notify, in writing, the presidents of boards of school trustees, and the clerks of the school districts, [of] the amount paid into the township treasurer's hands, and the date of payment, (a) {a) County Superintendent need not notify School Directors. Perhaps a literal interpretation of this act would require county superintendents to report to the clerks of school districts the amounts distributed and paid by them to their tov/nship treas- urer ; but since it cannot be seen that such a notice would serve any useful purpose, and since it is not believed to be the intent of the law to require such notice, it has been held that it need not be given. The county superintendent should, how- ever, notify the president of each board of trustees of the amount paid their treasurer as soon as it has been paid him. An Act to regulate the attendance of teachers upon teachers'' institutes. [June 14— July 1, 1887.] 114. Teachers given five days to attend institutes. Section 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly: That the time, not ex- ceeding three days in any one term, or five days in any one year, during term time, actually spent by a teacher of any public school in the state in attendance upon a teachers' insti- tute, held under the direction of the county superintendent of schools, shall be considered time lawfully expended by such teacher in the service of the district where such teacher is employed, and no deduction of wages shall be made for such absences. And it shall be the duty of the school officers and boards of education to allow teachers to close their schools for such attendance upon such institute, {a) (a) It is the manifest intention of the law that any teacher of a public school may take, without loss of pay, not more than three school days during one school term, nor more than five school days in one school year to attend a teachers' in- stitute, if one be held by the county superintendent of his- county while his school is in session. The district must pay for school days so taken, but they will not count to make up the one hundred and ten days which^ by section fifty-eight, it must have taught each year. *Form No. 47. SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 241 The county superintendent should give the teacher attending^ the institute a certificate showing the days of such attendance, which certificate the teacher should return to the school board with his schedule. An Act to provide for the auditing and payment of the quar- terly bills of county superintendents of schools. [Feb. 9, 1887— Emergency.] 115. "When bills shall be audited and paid. Section 1. Be it enacted by the Peojjle of the State of Illinois, repre- sented in the General Assembly : That the quarterly bills of the county superintendents of schools, for their compensation and expenses in visiting schools, as provided in section seventy-one (71) of the general school law, when presented in due form, shall be audited by the county boards of the several counties, at their first meeting after March 1, 1887, and so nearly as may be quarterly thereafter; and that the auditor of public accounts, upon receipt of said bills duly certified, is hereby authorized and required to draw his warrants upon the state treasurer in payment thereof, payable from the state school fund, and to transmit said warrants to the several county super- intendents of schools. An Act to provide for the election of presidents of boards of education in school districts. [June 17— July 1, 1887.] 116. President elected. Section 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented hi the General Assembly: That in every school district in which by general law a board of education is required to be elected, there shall also be elected, at the same time, a president of the board of education, who shall hold his office for one year and until his successor is elected and qualified, (a) (a) Election of President of Board of Education. The effect of this election is to make unnecessary the election of a presi- dent, as provided by Sec. 80, first part. 117. Duties of president. § 2, The president of the board of education so elected in each school district shall pre- side at all meetings of said board and shall give the casting^ vote in case of a tie between the members thereof, but other- wise he shall not have a vote. He shall sign all orders for the payment of money, ordered by said board, and generally perform such duties as are now imposed by law upon pre- sidents of boards of education, or that may be imposed upon him by said board, not in conflict with law : Provided, that in the absence or inability to act of said president, said board may appoint a president pro tern, from their number, (a.) (a) The duties imposed by law upon the president elected under this act, are (1) to preside at the meetings of the board ; 242 SCHOOL LA.WS AND DECISIONS. (2) to vote in case of a tie, and (3) to sign orders. He does not count to make a quorum ; nor does he perform any other duties, unless so directed by the board. 118. Repeal. § 3. All acts or parts of acts in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. An Act to provide for the appointment of school directors and members of the board of education, in certain cases. [May 29— July 1, 1879.] 119. To be appointed iT^rhen city council has been scliool board. Section 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assemhli/: That in all cases whereby [where, byj the provisions of any general or special law of this state heretofore passed, the members of the common c'ouncil of any city have been made ex officio school directors, or members of the board of education in and for the rschool district of which the said city shall constitute the whole or a part, the said school directors or members of the board of education shall hereafter he appointed as hereinafter pro- vided, (a) (a) Correction — Statute applies when. The word "whereby" in this section is evidently wrongly written for "where, by." The law applied to every city in which the common council were, by reason of any special law, acting as the school board of the city. It was held also to apply to those cities in which, by virtue of a special law, the common council was given the control of the schools with authority to appoint a school board and determine its powers and duties by ordinance ; since in such cases the common council could, by reducing the powers of the school board to a minimum, itself manage the schools, which would be contrary to the intent of this law, the purpose of which was to withdraw the public schools from the control of city councils in all cases. 120. Mayor to appoint — Council to confirm.. § 2. It shall be the duty of the mayor of such city, at the first regu- lar meeting of the city council, in the month of June, 1881, to nominate and place before the council for confirmation, as school directors or members of the board of education, as the case may be, two (2) persons from each ward of said city, one (1) from each ward to serve for two (2) years, and one (1) for one (1) year, and annually thereafter he shall nominate one (1) from each ward to serve two (2) years, and if the person 80 appointed shall be confirmed by a majority vote of the city •council, to be entered of record, the persons so appointed shall constitute the board of education or school directors for such school district. Should the council fail to confirm any person SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 243 or persons nominated by the mayor at such meeting, he may, at the next, or any subsequent meeting, nominate other per- sons for confirmation, as hereinbefore provided ; and should a vacancy or vacancies occur in any board of education or school directors, the mayor may, at any regular meeting of the city council, fill such vacancy or vacancies in the manner above set forth. [May 30, 1881.— Emergency.] 121. Organization — Powers. § 3. The said persons shall, as soon as practicable after their appointment, organize by electing one of their number president, and another secre- tary, who shall hold their respective offices for one year. All rights, powers and duties heretofore exercised by and devolved upon the members of the city council as ex officio members of the board of education or school directors shall devolve upon and be exercised by the members of the board of education and school directors appointed under the provisions of this act. 122. Further powers. § 4. In all school districts to which this act shall apply the boards of education or school directors shall annually, before the first day of August, certify to the city council, under the hands and seals of the president and secretary of the board, the amount of money required to be raised by taxation for school purposes in said district for ihe ensuing year, and the said city council shall thereupon ■cause the said amount to be levied and collected in the same manner now provided by law for the levy and collection of "taxes for school purposes in such district, but the amount to be so levied and collected shall not exceed the amount now allowed to be collected for school purposes by the general school laws of this state ; and when such taxes have been col- lected and paid over to the treasurer of such city or school district, as may be provided by the terms of the act under which such district has been organized, such funds shall be paid out only on the order of the board of education or school directors, signed by the president and secretary of such board. An Act to amend section one (1) of an act entitled "An act enabling school districts acting under special charters, to hold elections for the election of school directors and members of boards of education, at the time provided for the election of school directors under the school laws of this state," approved June 29, 1885, in force July 1, 1885. [March 25, 1887 — Emergency.] 123. Time of election — Organization. Section 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly: That section one (1) of an act entitled "An act enabling school districts acting under special charters, to hold elections for the election of school directors and mem- bers of boards of education, at the time provided for the elec- tion of school directors under the school laws of this state," 244 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. approved June 29, 1885, in force July 1, 1885, be amended so as to read as follows : Section 1. That in all cases where the time for the elec- tion of members of boards of directors and boards of educa- tion is fixed by virtue of any special charter, such election may be held at the time now provided, or which may hereafter be provided, for the election of school directors under the school laws of this state, and that such election may be held at such place in the school district as may be designated by the board of directors or board of education of such school dis- trict, and such boards of directors or boards of education, when elected, shall meet and organize at the time and in the manner now provided, or which may hereafter be provided under the school laws of this state. 134. Repeal. § 2. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed. An Act to regulate the loaning of school funds. [March 20, 1885— Emergency.] 125. Made as under general law. Section 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly: That in all cases where school funds are held by any person or persons in an official capacity, by virtue of any special charter defining the manner of loaning the same, such moneys may be loaned upon the same terms and condi- tions as are now provided, or may hereafter be provided, by the school laws of this state. An Act to regulate the holding of elections and declaring the result thereof for town, school township and school dis- trict purposes, where such town, school township or school district lies wholly within or partly within and partly with- out any city, village or incorporated town which has adopted or may adopt an act entitled "An act regulating the holding of elections and declaring the result thereof in cities, villages and incorporated towns in this state," ap- proved June 19, 1885, in force July 1, 1885. [March 23, 1887— Emergency.] 126. School elections under the law of 1885 — Polling- places. Section 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented, in the General Assembly: That in all elections hereafter held for town, school township or school district purposes in any town, school township or school district lying wholly within or partly within and partly without any city, village or incorporated town which has or may adopt an act entitled "An act regulating the holding of elections and declaring the result thereof in cities, villages and incorporated towns in this state," approved June 19, 1885, in force July 1, 1885, the legal authorities of such town, school township or school district shall locate the polling place or places, appoint SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. ihe judges and clerks and otherwise conduct the election in ihat portion or part of the town, school township or school district that lies without such city, village or incorporated town, in the manner now provided by law, except as hereinafter pro- vided, but no one residing without such city, village or incor- porated town shall vote at any polling place within, nor shall any one residing within vote at any polling place without, and the votes cast at the polling place or places without such city, village or incorporated town, shall be canvassed, certified and Teturned as is now provided by law in such cases, and in addi- tion thereto a complete abstract of the votes cast shall be made, certified and returned to the election commissioners of such city, village or incorporated town. 127. Conduct by commissioners — Returns. § 2. In all that part or portion of such town, school township or school district that lies within such city, village or incorporated town or when the same lies wholly within any such city, village or incorporated town, the election shall be conducted by the elec- tion commissioners of such city, village or incorporated town in strict conformity with the said act approved June 19, 1885, mentioned in section one of this act, and when partly within and partly without any such city, village or incorporated town the election commissioners shall certify the returns received by them from the polling place or places without such city, vil- lage or incorporated town, to the proper officer or officers ; and all the returns so certified and returned by the election com- missioners shall be canvassed, together with the returns certi- fied from polling places within, by the same canvassing board, the results thereof declared, and certificates of election shall be issued thereon, the same as if all such votes had been cast in, certified and returned from such city, village or incorpo- rated town : Provided, it shall not be necessary under this act for the election commissioners to make or cause to be made a revision of the registry for special elections to fill a vacancy in a single office. 128. Penalty for refusal to serve — For interference ■with election. § 3. An officer who shall willfully refuse to perform any duty required by this act shall be guilty of a mis- demeanor, and shall be liable to a fine of not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars, and on conviction shall be removed from office, by the order of the court wherein such fine is assessed, and any person or com- bination of persons who shall under any pretense whatever at- tempt to establish a rival polling place, or otherwise attempt to obstruct or interfere with any election held or to be held under this act, shall be guilty of a felony, and on conviction shall be imprisoned in the penitentiary not less than one nor more than three years. 129. Repeal. § 3^. All acts or parts of acts in conflict with this act are hereby repealed. 246 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. An Act to enable counties to establish county normal schools.. [March 15, 1869— Emergency.] 130. County may establisli a normal school — Vote. Section 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly: That in each county adopt- ing township organization, the board of supervisors, and in other counties the county court, may establish a county normal school for the purpose of fitting teachers for the common schools. That they shall be authorized to levy taxes and ap- propriate moneys for the support of said schools, and also for the purchase of necessary grounds and buildings, furniture, ap- paratus, etc., and to hold and acquire, by gift or purchase,, either from individuals or corporations, any real estate, build- ings or other property, for the use of said schools, said taxes to be levied and collected as all other county taxes : Provided, that in counties not under township organization, county courts shall not be authorized to proceed under the provisions of this act until the subject shall have been submitted to a vote of the people, at a general election, and it shall appear that a majority of all votes cast on the subject, at said election, shall be in favor of the establishment of a county normal school. The ballots used in voting on this subject may read "For a county normal school," or "Against a county normal school." 131. County board of education — Election. § 2, The management and control of said school shall be in a county board of education, consisting of not less than five nor more than eight persons, of which board, the chairman of the board of supervisors or the judge of the county court, as the case may be, and the county superintendent of schools, shall be, ex officio, members. The other members shall be chosen by the board of supervisors or county court, and shall hold their ofdces for the term of three years. But at the first election one-third shall be chosen for one year, one-third for two years, and one-third for three years, and thereafter one-third shall be elected annually. Said election shall be held at the annual meeting of the board of supervisors in September, or at the- September term of the county court, as the case may be. 132. Po"wers and duties of board. § 3. Said board of education shall have power to hire teachers, and to make and enforce all needful rules and regulations for the manage- ment of said schools. A majority of said board shall consti- tute a quorum for the transaction of business, and a meeting of said board may be called at any time by the president or secretary, or by any three of the members thereof. Said board shall proceed to organize, within twenty days after their ap- pointment, by electing a president, who shall hold his office for one year, and until his successor shall be appointed. The county superintendent shall be ex officio secretary of the board. Said board shall make to the board of supervisors, at their annual meeting in September, or to the county court at the SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 247 September term, as the case may be, a full report of the con- dition and expenditures of said county normal school, together with an estimate of the expenses of said school for the ensu- ing year. 133. Two or more counties may unite. § 4. Two or more counties may unite in establishing a normal school, in which case the per cent, of tax levied for the support of said school shall be the same in each county. 134. Prior action of counties legalized. § 5. In all counties that have already established normal schools, the action of the board of supervisors in so doing, and all appro- priations made by them for their support, are hereby legalized ;. and said boards of supervisors are hereby authorized and em- powered to make further appropriations for the support of such schools already established, until such schools shall have been established under the previous sections of this act. 135. Memlbers of board not compensated. § 6. No member of the aforesaid county board of education shall be entitled to compensation for services rendered as a member of such board. 136. Act in force. This act shall be in force from and after its passage. An Act to provide for the manner of issuing warrants upon the treasurer of any county, township, city, school district or other municipal corporation, and jurors' certificates. [May 31— July 1, 1879.] 137. Warrants drawn only when there are funds. Section 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly: That warrants payable on. demand shall hereafter be drawn and issued upon the treas- urer of this state, or of any county, township, city, school dis- trict or other municipal corporation, or against any fund in his hands, only when, at the time of the drawing and issuing of such warrants, there shall be sufficient money in the ap- propriate fund in the treasury to pay said warrants, (a) (a) The Teacher's Order for Wages — Other Orders. It would appear, from the fact that Sec. 53 is the later act of the legis- lature, that the teacher's order for wages is exempt from the- provisions of this act. It is said in Sec. 53 that the teacher's order may be issued upon the approval of his schedules, and that it shall draw interest when not paid on presentation for lack of funds. This clearly implies power to issue the order when there are no funds in the treasurer's hands with which it may be paid. But orders issued by school boards for any and all other purposes are subject to the provisions of this act. 138. Income from taxes anticipated. § 2. That whenever there is no money in the treasury of any county. 248 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. township, city, school district or other raunicipal corporation to meet and defray the ordinary and necessary expenses therof, it shall be lawful for the proper authorities of any county, township, city, school district or other municipal corporation, to provide that warrants may be drawn and issued against and in anticipation of the collection of any taxes, already levied by said authority for the payment of the ordinary and neces- sary expenses of any such municipal corporation, to the ex- tent of seventy-five per centum of the total amount of any said tax levy :* Provided, that warrants drawn and issued under the provisions of this section, shall show upon their face that they are payable solely from said taxes when collected, and not otherwise, and shall be received by any collector of taxes in payment of the taxes against which they are issued, and which taxes, against which said warrants are drawn, shall be set apart and held for their payment. 139. Jurors' certificate.. § 3. All jurors' certificates shall hereafter be issued in conformity with the provisions of this act. An Act to amend an act entitled "An act to enable counties, cities, townships, school districts and other municipal cor- porations to take up and cancel outstanding bonds and other evidences of indebtedness and fund the same," ap- proved and in force March 26, 1872. [April 4— July 1, 1875.] Section 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State oj Illinois, represented in the General Assembly: That section one of the aforesaid act be amended so as to read as follows : 140. Bonds refunded. § 1. That in all cases where any county, city, town, township, school district, or other municipal corporation have issued bonds or other evidences of indebted- ness for money, on account of any subscription to the capital stock of any railroad company, or on account of or in aid of any public buildings or other public improvement, or for any other purposes which are now binding or subsisting legal obli- gations against any county, city, town, township, school dis- trict or other municipal corporations, and remaining outstand- ing, and which are properly authorized by law, the proper authorities of any such county, city, town, township, school district or other municipal corporations may, upon the surren- der of any such bonds, or other evidences of indebtedness, or any number thereof, issue in place or in lieu thereof, to the holders or owners of the same, new bonds or other evidences of indebtedness, in such form, for such amount, upon such time, not exceeding the term of twenty years, and drawing such rate of interest, not exceeding ten per cent., as may be agreed upon with such holders or owners ; and such new bonds or other evidences of indebtedness so issued, shall show on their face * Form No. 48. SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. 249 that they are issued under this act : Provided, that the issue of such new bonds in lieu of such indebtedness shall first be authorized by a vote of a majority of the legal voters of such county, city, town, township, school district or other municipal corporation, voting either at some annual or special election of such municipal corporation : Aiid, provided further, that such bonds or other evidences of indebtedness shall not be issued so as to increase the aggregate indebtedness of such municipal corporation beyond five per centum on the value of the taxable property therein — to be ascertained by the last assessment for state and county taxes prior to the issuing of such bonds or other evidences of indebtedness. Nothing contained in this act, or in the act to which this is an amendment, shall be held tO' repeal or in anywise affect the power of the city of Chicago to- issue new bonds to an amount sufficient to retire and satisfy maturing bonds of said city, conferred by section thirty- eight of an act of the general assembly, approved February 13, 1863, amending the charter of said city, (a) {a) Refunding Bonds. Comments upon refunding bonds may be found in Sec. 47, note (b), 6 and 7. An Act to require officers having in their custody public funds to prepare and publish an annual statement of the receipts and disbursements of such funds. [May 30-.Tuly 1, 1881.] 141. OflB.cers to publish annual statements. Section 1. Be it enacted by the People of the !State of Illinois, represented in the Genei-al Assembly: That each and every public officer, elected or appointed, of each and every county and township in this state, who shall, by virtue of his or her office, have the custody of public funds, shall, at the expiration of each fiscal year, prepare a statement of the amount of public funds received and expended by him or her during the fiscal year just closed ; which statement shall show the amount of public funds, if any, on hand at the commencement of said fiscal year, the amount of public funds received, and from what sources re- ceived, the amount of public funds expended, and for what purposes expended ; and the officer making such statement shall subscribe and swear to the same before some person au- thorized to administer oaths ;* and such officer shall cause such statement to be published in some newspaper published in the county in which such officer holds his or her office, for one week ; and if no newspaper be published in such county, then such officer shall make three (3) written copies of such statement, and post them in three (3) of the most public places nearest to the location of his or her office : Provided, that the provisions of this act shall not apply to sheriffs, circuit clerks, county clerks, county recorders, county superintendents of * Form No. 49, —16 250 SCHOOL LAWS AND DECISIONS. schools, county treasurers, county collectors, and township col- lectors, in counties under township organization : And, pro- vided, farther, that the cost of the publication of said statement shall not exceed the sum of one dollar ($1) per one hundred words, to be paid out of the funds in the hands of the officer making such statement : And, provided, further, that said public officer shall not be required to have said statement published, if he shall be unable to procure such publication at the price al- lowed by this act. {a) (a) Township Treasurers to publish Statement. A statement such as this act requires must be published each year by the township treasurer. The phrase "at the expiration of each fiscal year" has no particular meaning as applied to a school treasurer's affairs. It is believed that a publication made just after the April meeting of the trustees will be of more interest to the people than at any other time, since their attention is called to school matters then by the occurrence of the school elections. The treasurer can as easily make up the statement then as at any other time. It is, therefore, advised that the statement required be pubhshed in April, shortly after the trustees' meeting. But it is not held that a publication at some other period would not be timely. The statement must be made with enough of detail to show the sources of the receipts, and the purposes of the expendi- tures. 142. Penalty. § 2. Any public of&cer of any county or township in this state, who, by virtue of his or her office, shall have the custody of public funds, and who shall refuse or neg- lect to comply with the provisions of the first section of this act, shall be deemed gailty of a misdemeanor, and, upon con- viction thereof, shall be fined not less than fifty dollars ($50) nor more than five hundred dollars (|500), at the discretion of the court, which fine shall be paid into the treasury of the county or township in which the officer convicted of said mis- demeanor shall hold his or her office ; and it shall be the duty of the state's attorney for the county in which said misde- meanor is committed, to bring suit against any public officer charged with the violation of the provisions of this act, in any court having jurisdiction. IFORMS, CALENDAR AND TABLE OF CASES. FOKMS. Form 1. County Supeeintendent's Bond. [§ 12.] Use always form in Sec. 12 of the school law. Form 2. Eeceipt or County Superintendent. [§ 16.] «.... ,111, 18... Eeceived of county superintendent of county, the sum of 100 dollars, being the amount apportioned for the year 18.., to township No , range in said county by said county superintendent. , Toionship Treasurer. Form 3. Note to County SupePvIntendeet. [§ 19.] Use form No. 40, with needed changes. Form 4. MoETGAGE to County Supeeintendent. [§ 19.] Use always, with necessary changes, the form in Sec. 58 of the law. Form 5. Ceetificate of County Supeeintendent in Appeals. [§ 20.] Office of the County Supeeintendent of Schools. Ill ,18.. To Superintendent of Fuhlio .Instruction: Sie: There is transmitted herewith a statement of the case, and the documents presented to me, in the controversy between and .together with my decision thereon, from which an appeal has been taken to you. 1 certify that the statement is full and correct. County Superintendent of Schools for County. Form 6. Notice of Election of Township Trustee. [§ 25.] Note.— If more than one trustee is to be elected, consult note (a), 2, Sec. 27, before drawing the notice. Notice is hereby given, that Saturday, the day of 18 , at , in township No range county. Illinois, an election will be held for school trustee for said township. Which election will be opened at o'clock M.., and will continue open until ■o'clock JM. of the same day. By order of the trustees of schools of said township. Dated 18... Township Treasurer. Form 7. Poll Book of Election of Township Trustee. [§ 30.] Poll book of election held at in township , range county of and State of Illinois, on Saturday, the day of -a-*^--- I do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be), that I will support the Consti- tution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of judge of election (or clei-k, as the case may be), according to the best of my ability. Subscribed and sworn to before me this day of 18... NoTE.^Each judge and the clerk must take the oath. Sec. 27, note (a). No. Names of Voters. Form 8. Tally Sheet of Election of Township Trustee. [§ 30.] Tally list of an election held at in township range , in the county of , 111., for school trustee for said township, on the day of IS... Names of persons voted for. Tallies. 252 FORMS OF SCHOOL INSTRUMENTS. Form 9. Retuen of Election of Township Trustee. [§ 30.] At AN ELECTION held at , in township range , ia the county of , 111., on the day of 18 the follow- ing persons received the number of votes set opposite to their respective names, for- the office of seliool trustee of said township : Names of persons voted for. Whole number of votes east for each person. Certified by us, Judges of Election. Attest, Clerk of Election. Form 10. Notice of Special Meeting of Trustees. [§ 32.] To Sir: There will be a special meeting of the trustees of schools of township , range at on the day of ,18 at tlie- hour of o'clock, M., to attend to tlie following business. [Here insert business to come up.] ,111., ,18 Note.— Tlie notice may be given by two trustees. President. Form 11. Petition BY MAJORITY OF LEGAL VOTERS OF A district. [§33.] We, tlie undersigned, being a majority of tlie legal voters in district No , in township , range , in county, petition the trustees of schools of said township to divide said school district along a line beginning [here give line of division], making two districts thereof; and we declare that each of the new districts will have not less than ten families living in it. [Here sliould follow names.] Note.— If the district runs into two townships, the petition must be addressed to botli boards of trustees, and must be drawn and signed in duplicate, so that it may be presented to each board. With necessary changes to express the different purpose, this form may be used when a majority of the legal voters of a district wish to petition to liave their district consolidated with another district ; or to have a portion of their territory set off to another district; or to liave a portion of their territory together with other territory made a new district. But the clause with regard to number of families should not be retained except in the last case. This form can be used by the voters of two or more districts. In sucli case it should begin : "We, the undersigned, being a majority of the legal voters in each of these school districts, namely, district No , in township range , and distrietNo in township range ," etc. Form 12. Petition by two-thirds of Legal Voters for a New District. [§33.] We, the undersigned, being two-thirds of the legal voters in the territory herein described, petition the trustees of schools of townsliip , range in county, to make a new school district of this territory, namely. [Here describe the territory.] And Ave declare that said district will not have less than ten families resident in it, and that no district from which territory will be taken will be left with less than ten families. [Here should follow names.] Note. If the districts aflfeeted by the proposed change do not all lie in the same township, then the petition must be addressed to tiie two, three or four boards, and two, three or four petitions, one for each board, must be drawn up and signed. Form 13. Petition of two-thirds of legal voters to have territory in WHICH THEY LIVE SET OFF FROM ONE DISTRICT TO ANOTHER. L§ 33.] We, the undersigned, being two-thirds of tire legal voters living in the territory herein described, petition the trustees of schools of township , range in county to detach this territory, namely : [Here describe territory,] from district No township , range and add it to distrietNo. in township range [Here should follow names]. Note. The directions given in note to No. 12. must be followed here. FORMS OF SCHOOL INSIRUMENTS. 253 Form 14. Notice of petition to Disthicts Affected. [§ 33.] Use the form given in Sec. 33 of the school law, and append to it a copy of the pe- tition, including the names. Form 15. Ceetificate of Delivery of Notice. [§ 33.] To the trustees of Schools of Township Range in County: Thereby certify that on the day of 18 , I served president (or clerk) of the directors of school district No township range in county with a copy of a petition [here insert a descrip- tion of the petition sufficient to designate it clearly] and with the notice in regard to the same which is required by Sec. 33 of the school law. Form 16. Notice of Appeal by a Petitionee. [§ 33.] To the Treasurer of Toivnship Range in County: I hereby give notice that, as a signer of a petition, [here insert a description of the petition suffleient to identify it], I appeal to the county superintendent of schools of county from the action of the trustees of schools of said tOAvnship in re- fusing said petition. .18. Form 17. Notice of Appeal by Opponent of Petition. L§ 33.] To the Treasurer of Township Range in County: I hereby give notice that, being one who appeared before the trustees of schools of said township and opposed a petition, [here insert description of petition], I appeal to the county superintendent of schools of county from the action of said trustees in granting said petition. .18. Form 18. Permit of Transfer. [§ 35.] m. ,18.... By order of the board of directors of school district No ,T R permission is granted who is a resident of this district, and of lawful school age, to attend school months in district No T ,R This permit shall continue in force months from this date. Clerk. President. Ill, ,18.... Approved by order of the board of directors of school district No T H Clerk. Fresident. Form 19. Notice of District Election. [§ 42.] Notice is hereby given, that Saturday, the day of 18 an election will be held at ,in school district No township range county of and iState of Dlinois, for the purpose of electing school director for said district. The polls will be opened at o'clock M.., and close at o'clock M.., of the same day. Dated this day of , 18 > School Directors . Note. If more than one director is to be elected, consult Sec. 27, note (a), 2, before drawing the notice. Notices of meetings to vote on various business questions may be in substantially the same form, except that such meetings are not required to be held Saturday, but may be held on any other day of the week. The various questions to be voted on should be clearly stated. The poll-book, tally list, and returns of district elec- tions are substantially the same as of township elections, forms for which have already been given— Forms Nos. 7, 8 and 9. Form 20. Notice of Special Meeting of Directors. [§ 42.] See Form No. 10 for special meeting of trustees. Form 21. Certificate of Tax Levy. [§ 44.] Use form in See. 44 of the law. Form 22. School District Bond. [§ 47.] Know all men by these presents, that school district No in township No. i, , range No , in county. State of Illinois, is indebted unto 254 FORMS OF SCHOOL INSTRUMENTS. in the sum of dollars, for money borrowed, according 'to the- instructions of the voters of said district, expressed by a vote as prescribed by th& forty-seventh section of the school law. to be paid in year., from date, with interest thereon from the date hereof, at the rate of per cent, per annum, in- terest payable annually. Dated this day of 18 In witness whereof, we, the school directors of said district, have hereunto set our hands and seals. [SEAL.l [SEAL.l [seal.] Form 23. Conteact with Teacher. [§ 48.] It is hereby agreed, between the school directors of district No township- range county of and State of Illinois, and G. H.,a aualified teacher of said county, that the said G. H. is to teach the common school in said dis- trict for the term of months, beginning the day of , 18 ; and that for such services properly rendered the said directors shall pay the-- said teacher loo dollars a month. ri' =n'' {.Directors of said. ^- f- J District. G. hV, Teacher. Form 24. Teacher's Certificate. [§ 50.] Use form in Sec. 50 of the school law. Form 25. Renewal of Teacher's Certificate. [§ 50.] Office of County Superintendent of Schools. ,IU ,18.... The within certificate is hereby renewed for year., from , 18 ,. the date of its expiration. County Superintendent of Schools for County. Form 26. Revocation of Teacher's Certificate. f§ 50.] Office of County Superintendent of Schools. ni ,18 To Sir: The certificate of aualiflcation held by you as a common school teacher in- county, bearing date ,18 , is hereby revoked. County Superintendent of Schools for County. Note. If the certificate can not be taken up, a notice like the above addressed to- the public may be published in some paper of the county. Form 27. Notice of Revocation of Teacher's Certificate. [ §50.] Office of County Superintendent of Schools. ,111 18 To the Clerk of Dis^trict No , in Toion Range ; Sir: You are hereby notified that, on the day of ,18 ,1 revoked the certificate of a teacher in your district. County Superintendent of Schools for County. Note.— If the teacher gives up his certificate and stops teaching, this notice need not be sent. But if he persists in teaching, this notice should be sent, and a similar- notice should be sent to the township treasurer who holds the district's funds, and to the president of the school trustees of the township. Form 28. Monthly Report of Institute Fund. [§ 51,] List of persons who have paid examination fees, as required by Sec. 61 of the - school law during the month of , and of those who have paid renewal fees: [Here insert names, keeping the two classes distinct.] The foregoing list is correct. 18 County Superintendent of Schools. Note.— The list and moneys to be paid over should be given the county treasurer- on the first day of each month. Form 29. Report of Registration Fees. [§ 51.] List of persons who paid registration fees, as required by Sec. 51 of the school law,^ at the institute held at for week., beginning 18.... [Here insert names.] 18 County Superintendent of Schools. Note. The list and moneys to be paid over should be given the county treasurer- as soon as the institute closes. FORMS OF SCHOOL INSTRUMENTS. 255 Form 30. Oedee on Institute Fund. [§ 51.] Office of County Supeeintendent of Schools, County, III 18.... To Treasurer of County: Pay to the order ox loo dollars out of the institute fund for , as stated in his receipted bill on file in my office. County Superintendent of Schools. Note. The county superintendent must pay all institute funds which come into his ha,nds under Sec. 51 of the school law to the county treasurer. He must take vouchers for all payments from the fund and must make all payments by orders- on the county treasury. Form 31. Receipt foe Deposit of Institute Fund. [§ 51.] Office of County Teeasueee, m 18.... Reoeiyed of county superintendent of schools for county, 100 dollars, to be placed to the credit of the institute fund. County Treasurer. Form 32. School Registee. [§ 53.] See form given in Sec, 53 of the law. Form 33. Schedule and Ceetificates. [§ 53.] See forms given in Sec. 53. Form 34. Receipt foe Schedule. [§ 53.] ,77/., 18.... Received of G. H., teacher in the common school in district No township range a schedule of said school for the time beginning the day of 18 , and ending the day of 18 A. B., Director. Form 35. School Teachee's Oedee. [§§53,67.] The treasurer of township No , range in county, will pay to , or order loo dollars for h services as teacher in our employ from 18 to ,18 inclusive, being at the rate of 100 dollars a month, for which time we have certified h schedule as re- quired by section fifty-three of the school law. By order of the board of directors of districtNo in said township. A. B., President. C. D., Clerk. Form 36. Endoesement of Teachee's Oedee foe Wages. L§ 53.] This order was presented tome for payment this day of ,18 » and was not paid for lack of funds. Townshw Treasurer. Form 37. Notice of Funds to pay Oedee. [§ 53.] To the Clerk of District ]^o , Town , Bange ; Notice is hereby given you that I have money on hand to the credit of your dis- trict with which to pay order No , issued to your teacher, for wages. Township Treasurer^ .III, ,18.... Form 38. Township Teeasueee's Bond. [§55.] Use always the form given in Sec. 55 of the law. Note. The treasurer's bond must be acknowledged hy him and 'by each of his sureties before some officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments. Notaries- public and justices of the peace are so authorized. The bond should be acknowl- edged before approval by the trustees. The form of acknowledgment prescribed is as follows ; State of 1 County of t^^- I, hereby certify that , who are personally known to me to be the same persons whose names are subscribed to the 256 FOEMS OF SCHOOL INSTRUMENTS. foregoing instrument, appeared before me this day in person and acknowledged that they signed, sealed and delivered said instrument as their free and voluntary act for the uses and purposes therein set forth. Given under my hand and seal, this day of A. D., Form 39. Eecoed of Notes. See form given in Sec. 56 of the law. [§ 56.] Form- Note to Teustees of Schools. [§ 57.] : III, .... 18.. after date, for value received, we jointly and severally promise to pay to the trustees of schools of township range in county, the sum of loo dollars and interest thereon, at the rate of per cent, per annum from date, payable annually. And we further agree to give any additional security which said trustees of schools may at any time require ; and no extension of the time of payment, Avith or without our knowledge, by the receipt of interest or otherwise, shall release us or either of us from the obligation to pay this note. Form 41. JVIoetgage to Teustees of Schools. Use always form in Sec. 58 of the school law. L§ 58.] Form 42. Demand foe Additional Secueity. To 60.] Sie: By order of the trustees of schools of township range , I hereby require you to give additional security for the money loaned you from the school fund of said township. . Ill, .18. Township Treasurer. to Form 43. Teeasueee's Semi-annual Exhibit to Dieectoes. [§ 63.; Statement of the township treasurer of township range the directors of district No in said township: [Here insert a statement of receipts and expenditures in detail, for six months beginning with balance shown in last report and closing with balance on hand.] The foregoing is a full and true statement of the balances, receipts and expendi- tures of said district for the six months beginning 18 n 18.... Subscribed and sworn to before me A. D. 18.... Township Treasurer. this day of Form 44. Oedee on Township Teeasueee. See form in Sec. 67 of school law; also forms 35 and 50. [§ 67.] Form 45. IVIagisteate's Repoet to County Supeeintendent. [§ 82.] Report of the docket of , justice of the peace in township range , county of State of Illinois, made on the day of 18 — to county superintendent of schools for said county: Names of per- sons fined. Date of fine. Amount of fine. Amount collected. Am't transmitted to county sup't. Name of officer. The foregoing is a full and true statement, such as is required of me by Sec. 77 of the school law, and includes all fines, forfeitures and penalties imposed or incurred in my court since the date of my last report, [or, if recently come into office, since my term of oifice began.] Justice of the Peace. Subscribed and sworn to before me this day of A. D. 18. . . CALENDAR. 257 Form 46. Certificate of Puechase of School Lands. [§ 93.] Know all men that 1 county superintendent of schools for the county of have this day sold to , of the county of and State ■of Illinois, the following described school lands: in consideration of dollars to me paid, and of a note (here de- scribe it,) in conformity with the provisions of the school law, and that upon the payment of the aforesaid note and the surrender of this certificate, the said purchaser, or his assigns, will be entitled to a patent from the state for said lands. Given under my hand at this day of A. D, 18 — County Superintendent of Schools. Form 47. Notice of Payment op Money to Township Trbasueee. [§ 113.1 Tothe President of the Trustees of Township , range .■ 1 have this day of , 18 paid your treasurer loo dollars, "being the amount apportioned to your township by me. County Superintendent of Schools in County. Note. This form can be used to report payments by other oificers, and also to make a report to clerks of school boards. [Sec. 113, note ia).] Form 48. Oedees deawn against Uncollected Taxes. L§ 137.] The treasurer of township , range , in county, will pay 100 dollars to order of for , out of the proceeds of the tax levied 18 , This order is issued and received in full discharge of the debt which it purports to pay, and it is payable solely from the proceeds of said tax when collected. By order of the board of directors of district No , in said township. A. B., President. C. D., Clerk. Note. This form can be varied, if it be desired to draw against a special tax, as ■ one levied for building purposes. Form 49. Teeasueee's Published Statement. [§ 141.] Annual statement of the treasurer of township range for the year ending April 18 [Here insert former balance, receipts, stating sources, and expenditures, stating purposes, and balance at date of report.] The foregoing statement of balances, receipts and expenditures of said school township for the year named, is full and true. Township Treasurer. Subscribed and sworn to before me this day of , 18.. Calendae of School Elections and Duties. ■ January first. ifonday—Apportionvaent of auditor. March first, on or before— Vayment of auditor's warrant. On or before same day— Report of fines and forfeitures. April first— Gollectov of taxes to pay treasurer. April, fir. st Monday— Hesul&r meeting of trustees; treasurer's report. Within two days a/ier— Treasurer's statement to directors. Immediately a/^e?'— Treasurer to publish financial statement. .April, first Tuesday— Wieaiion of trustee, when elected at town meeting. .April, first Sat^lrday—'E[QQtion of trustee, in other eases. Within ten days a/ier— Organization of board of trustees. Same da?/— Election of members of boards of education. .April, third Saturday— 'Election of directors; their report to voters. Within five days after— 'Report by board to treasurer. Within ten days a/i!er— Organization of board of directors. July seventh— Directors' report of statistics to treasurer. On or before same day— AW schedules filed with treasurer. ^uly fifteenth— Trustees report to county superintendent. August, first Tuesday— Directors to certify tax levy to treasurer. A.ugust, second Monday— ^ame returned to county clerk by treasurer. 258 TABLE OF CASES. August fifteenth— County superintendent's report to state superintendent. September, at Annual Meeting— Goiinty superintendent's report to county board. September thirtieth— Tveasiirev's report of notes, etc., to county superintendent. October, first Monday— Jiegulur meeting of trustees ; treasurer's report. Within tioo days a/'te?-— Treasurer's statement to directors. November first-State, superintendent's report to governor; biennially. Nove.'inher, Tuesday after first Monday, iSS6— Election of state and county superin- tendents, and quadrennially thereafter. Table of Cases. PAGE. PAGE Abington v. N. Bridgewater, Mass .... 119 Chicago, Merwin v.. Ill 154 Abry, "Watson v.. 111. App .... 154 ..92,113 Chicago V. People, 111 ....10,43,94 Adams t). State, 111 Churchill v. Fewkes, 111. App . .123.137,148 Adams, State v., Vt .... 98 Churchman, Stuckey v.. 111. App 140- Adamson, Lyon v., la, .... 117 Clark V. Directors, 111 .106,111,203 Aikman v. Dist., Kas .... 55 Clark 'i>., Dist, Yt 139 Akers, Jacksonville v.. 111. App. . . .120,138 Clifford, Nevilii., Wis 155^ Alderman «. Directors. Ill .... 87 Coe, Pennington ■('.. Ill .105,152,154 Allen. Quinn v.. Ill -.87,154 Com'rs, Pace i'.. Ill 86 Arnold, B'd of Edu.t;., Ill .174,215 Com. 1). Eandall, Mass 134 Bac. Ab., Assault and Battery .... 134 Cooley on Taxation 11 Badger u Knapp, 111. App ...67,70 Cooley's Blaokstone 135 Baldridge, Casey v.. Ill .... 172 Cooper v. McJunkin, Ind 132 Barrv. Deniston, N. H .172, 173 Cotton (1. Reed, 111 153 Bassett v. Pish, N. Y .... 90 Cottrell, Appeal of, R.I 40 Bateman, NeM^ton .... 144 Co. Champaign. Univ. v.. III.. 10 Bates, McCortle v., Ohio .... 100 Crane v. Hyde Park, Mass 86 Beardstownt). Virginia, 111 .... 49 Crawfordsville v. Hays, Ind.. . 138 Beaver, Thompson v.. Ill ..68,122 Cumrnings, Spear v.. Mass ... 140,149 Berner, Jackson v.. Ill .... 233 Curry w. Mack, 111 193 Benjamin i). McConnell, 111 .... 140 Davidson v. Reed, 111 8t> Beverly 11. Sabin, 111 .... 153 Davison, Trustees «., Ill 193. Bigelow v. Randolph, Mass .... 90 Davis V. Directors. Ill .137,139,171 Bivens y. Harper, 111 .... 154 Davis, Littlewortv., Miss 192- Black, Com., 1 .... 131 Day, Weir v., Ohio 91 Bloomington, McLean Co. i'.,Ill.. .... 11 Deniston, Barr v., N. H 172,173 B'd of Edu. V. Arnold, 111 .174,215 Deskinsw. Gose,Mo 124 B'd of Edu., Finch i'., Ohio .... 90 De we y i'. Dist. , Mich 139,181 B'd of Edu., Hewitt u.. Ill .103, 114 Directors, Alderman v.. Ill 87 B'd of Edu., Millard »., 111. App .. .... 118 Directors, Clark n. , 111 .106,111,203 B'd of Edu., Peers v.. Ill .111,204 Directors, Davis t).. Ill .137,139,171 B'd of Edu., People »., Ill .... 236 Directors v. Directors. Ill 71,75 B'd of Edu., Powell v.. Ill 10, 17, 1(54 Directors v. Directors, 111. App 75 B'd of Edu., State v., Wis ..89,123 Directors V. Fogleman, 111 105 B'd of Edu. V. Taft, 111. App .... 112 Directors. Folsom v.. Ill .106,113,204 Bradley V. Case, 111 .201,229 Directors v. Hudson, HI 138,142 Braner, Trustees v.. Ill .... 86 Directors v. Jennings, 111. App 55,137 Brewer, People v.. Ill . . . . 46 Directors v. Miller, 111 103,114 Bruner I). Madison Co., Ill .... 209 Directors, Neville v.. Ill 141 Burt, McCormick n.. Ill 131 , 137, 150 Directors. Newell v.. Ill 204 Burton, State v., Wis 1? ,121,150 Directors. Nichols I'., Ill 91 Butler y. Haines, Ind .137, 171 Directors, Noble v.. Ill 155,172 Case. Bradley y., Ill .201,229 Directors v. Parks, 111 88 Casey y. Baldridge, 111 .... 172 Directors v. People, 111 56 Charlestown, Sherman v., Mass.. .124,150 Directors, Perkins i\, la 124 Chase v. Stephenson, 111 .... 236 Directors, Price v.. Ill 86 Chessliire u. People, 111 ...64,71 Directors i'. Roddick, 111 142:: TABLE OF CASES. 259 PAGE. Directors, Stevenson v.. Ill 80,117, 137,139 171 Directors v. Taylor, 111 H^ Directors v . Trustees. Ill 68 Directors, Trustees •«.. Ill 68 Directors, Wilson v.. Ill 85,86 Distric-t, Clark v., Vt 139 District, Dewey v., Mich 139,181 District, Everett ii . , Mich 138 Districts. Harvey, Vt 98 District, Johnson v.. Mo 100 District I'. McCoy, Kas 142 District, Mincer v.. Kas 100 District, Monaghan ■« . , "Wis 139 Districts. Padden.Pa 55 Districts. State, Neb 113 District v. Sterricker, 111 163 District, Stuart v., Mich 10 District, Thompson i'.. Pa 153 Dist. Tw'p of Corwin v. Morehead.Ia. 86 Dist. Tw'p Woodbury, Lane v., la — 90 Drittf'. Snodgrass, Mo 125 Dunning. Simons v.. Ill 51 Dupuyt, People I)., Ill 104 Elmore v. Overton. Ind 158 Everett v. District, Mich 138 Fassett, Stevens v.. Me 1,32,135 Eessenbeck, Moore t). , 111 107, 212 Fewkes, Churchill v.. 111. App. .123, 137, 148 Finch v.B'd of Edu., Ohio 90 Fish, Bassettv., N.Y I'O Fisher r. People, 111 82 Fogleman, Directors y.. Ill 105 Folsom V . Directors, 111 106, 113, 204 Fuller V. Heath, 111 11,214,215 Garrard, Wilson I'-, 111 86 Gerke v. Purcell, Ohio 153 Geddes i'. Thomastown, Mich 211 Glidden v. Hopkins, 111 202, 203 Gose, Desklus ('., Mo 124 Graham, States;., Wis 17.66,70 Greenleaf , v. Trustees, 111 10, 44 Grove t'. Inspectors, 111 118 HaasiJ. Myers, 111 138 Haines, Butler v., Ind 137, 171 Haines, People f., Ill 192 Hale's P. C 131 Harper, Bivens v.. Ill 154 Harvey, District v., Vt 98 Harvey v. Irwin, la 117 Hawk. 1 134 Hays, Crawfordsville v., Ind 138 Hazen V. Lerche, Mich 55 Heath, Fuller v.. Ill 11,214,215 Hewettv. B'dof Edu.,111 103,114 Higbee. Judge C. L 148 Hodge, People u..Neb 75 PAGE. Holbrookt'. Trustees, 111 93 Holmes v. Mattoon, 111 155 Hopkins, Glidden i'., Ill 202,203 Houghton. Spragins i>.,Ill 49 Hudson, Directors i'.. Ill 138,142 Humistonu. Trustees, 111. App 92 Hyde Park. Crane v.. Mass 86 Inspectors, Grove y.. Ill 118 Irwin. Harvey v., la 117 Jackson V. Berner, 111 233 Jacksonville v. Akers, 111. App.... 120, 138 Jennings, Directors v., 111. App 55 137 Johnson i>. District. Mo 100 Jones V. Wright, Mich 92 Kal. Nov. Mfg. Co. v. Macalister,Mich 138 Kent's Commentaries, 2 132 Kidd, State ■!'., Wis 75 Kildufl, People i'., in 50 King y. McDrew, 111 109 Knapp, Badger v., lU. App 67,70 Lander v, Seaver, Vt 124, 125, 133 Lane v. Dist. Tw'p Woodbury, la — 90 Langdale «. People. Ill 202 Law y. People. Ill 105 Lerche, Hazen t)., Mich 5& Littlewort v. Davis, Miss 192 Lovingston v. Trustees, 111 92, 199, 209 Lynnfield, Eussell v., Mass 120 Lyon y.Adamson, la 117 Macalister, Kal . Nov. Mfg. Co. f., Mich 138 McConnellw. Benjamin. Ill 140- McCormick v. Burt, 111 131,137,150 MeCortle i). Bates, Ohio 100 McCoy, Dist. v., Kas - 142 McCutchen v. Windsor, Mo 137 McDonald t'. Madison Co.. Ill 209 McDrew, King v.. Ill 109 McJunkin, Cooper y., Ind 132 McHenry y. Trustees, 111 193 Mack, Curry t).. Ill 193 McLean Co. v. Bloomington, 111 11 Madison Co., Bruner v.. Ill 209 Madison Co., McDonald y.. Ill 209 Mann, Horace 137 Marshall, Wilkins v.. Ill 49 Matteson, People v.. Ill 50 Mattoon, Holmes y.. Ill 155 Mays, People y.. Ill 21,142 Merwin V. Chicago. Ill 15* Millard y. B'd of Edu., 111. App 118 Miller, Directors y. , 111 103, 114 Miller y. Trustees, 111 '^8 Mills y . Thornton, 111 109' Mincer u. District, Kas 100 Misenheimer, Trustees v.. Ill 192,199 Mizner, State v., la 119, 135 260 TABLE OF CASES. PAGE. Mizner, State «., la 133 Monaghan v. Dist., Wis 139 Moore v. Fessenbeck, 111 107, 212 Moore u. Trustees. Ill 191 Morehead, Dist. Tw'p of Corwin v., la. 86 Mori'ow V. Wood, Wis 144 Myers, Haas v.. Ill 138 JSTat'l B'k Mendota u Smith, 111 109 Nevil «. Clifford, Wis 155 Neville v. Directors, III 141 Newell -u. Directors, 111 204 Newton v. People, 111 211 Nichols I'. Directors. Ill 91 Noble y. Directors, 111 155,172 North Bridgewater, Abingtoni)., Mass. 119 O. & M. E'y Co., Weber u.. Ill 107 Overton, Elmore r., Ind 158 Pace V. Com'rs, 111 86 Pace ». People, 111 27,84 Pacc'y. People, 111 21 Padden, District v.. Pa 65 Parks, Directors t).. Ill 88 Peck-y. Smith, Conn 1.35,137 Peers v.B'dot Edu., Ill Ill, 204 Pekin V. Reynolds, 111 114 Pendergrass, State «., N. C 134 Pennington I). Coe, 111 105,152,154 People «.B'd of Edu.. Ill 236 Peoples. Brewer, III 46 People, Chesshire v.. Ill 64,71 People, Chicago v.. Ill 10,43,94 People, Directors t'., Ill 56 People V. Dupuyt, 111 104 People, Fisher «., Ill 82 People i>. Haines, 111 192 People V. Hodge, Neb 75 Peoples. Kilduff. Ill 50 People, Langdale v.. Ill 202 People, Law v.. Ill 105 People t'. Matteson, 111 50 Peoples. Mays, 111 21,142 People, Newton v., Ill 211 People, Pace -y.. Ill 27, 84 People, Pace v.. Ill 21 People. Peters v.. Neb 55.100 People, Piatt ».. Ill 50 People, Rogers v.. Ill 73 People, Shaefer v.. 111. App .64,215 People, Simons v.. 111. App 50,-56 People ri. Sisson. Ill 111,112,113 People, Speighti)., Ill 11,214 People, Tappan«.,Ill 110 People V. Tazewell Co., Ill 114 People, Thatcher «., Ill 109 People, Thatcher v., Ill 112 People, Thatcher v.. Ill 112 People V. Trustees, III 43, 104, 116 PAGE. People V. Trustees, 111 44, 229 People, Trustees 1),, 111 82,122,144 People V. Trustees, 111 63, 116 People ■!). Trustees, 111 10,94 People. Univ. Chicago «., Ill 10 People, Wells v.. Ill 172,173 People, V. Wiltshire, 111 ■.... 109 Perkins v. Directors, la 124 Perkins V. Wolf, la 173 Peters u. People, Neb 55,100 Philhps, Judge Jesse J 149 Piatt «. People, 111 50 Pollock on Contracts 138 Porters. Robinson, N. Y 55 Post, Rulison t).. Ill 122, 137, 144, 146 Potter V. Trustees, 111. App 65, 71 Potters. Trustees, 111. App 183 Powell iJ.B'd of Edu., Ill 10,17,164 Price I'. Directors, 111 , 86 Pureell. Gerke i'., Ohio 153 Quinn 1'. Allen. Ill 87,154 Randall, Com. v.. Mass 134 Randolph, Bigelowu., Mass 90 Raymond. Richards u.. Ill 10,82 Reddiek, Directors «., Ill 142 Reed, Cotton v.. Ill 1-53 Reed, Davidson y., Ill 86 Reeves Dom. Rel 134 Reynolds, Pekint'., Ill 114 Richards v. Raymond, 111 10, 82 Roberson v. Troutt, 111. App. . . .120, 138, 142 Robinson, Porter v., N. Y 55 Rogers v. People, III 73 RuKson V. Post, 111 122, 137. 144, 146 Russell on Crimes 134 Russell y. Lynnfleld, Mass 120 Sabin, Beverly v.. Ill 153 School Com'rs, Wiley «., Md 40 School Dist., Aikmany., Kas 55 School Dist., Stuart d., Mich 10 Schouler on Dom. Rel 139 Seaver, Lander «.,Vt 124,125,133 Shaefer y. People, 111. App 64,215 Sherlock y. Winnetka, 111 91,114 Sherman y. Charlestown, Mass 124, 1.50 Sheehan V. Sturgis, Conn 121,135 Simons v. Dunning, III 51 Simons v. People, 111. App 50,56 Sisson, People v.. Ill Ill, 112, 113 Smith. Nat'l B'k Mendotat?., Ill 109 Smith Peck v.. Conn 135, 1.37 Smith, Trustees t'.. Ill 184 Snodgrass, Drift v., Mo 125 Snyder V. Spaulding, 111 210 Spear 1). Cummings, Mass 140,149 Speight y. People. Ill 11,214 TABLE OF CASES. 261 PAGE. Spragins v. Houghton, 111 -19 State V. Adams, 111 92, 113 State, Adams v., Vt 98 State v.B'd of Edu.. Wis 89,123 State V. Burton, Wis 17, 121, 150 State, District y.. Neb 113 State V. Graham, Wis 17, 66, 70 State V. Kidd, Wis 75 State V. Mizner, la 119, 135 State V. Mizner, la 133 State V. Pendergrass, N. C 134 State V. Treasurer, Ohio 55 State «. Whitford, Wis 39 State V. Williams, Ohio 188 State V. Williams, Vt 137 Steele, Judge James 147 Stephenson, Chase v.. Ill 236 Sterricker. District ■«., Ill 163 Stevens v. Fassett, Me 132, 1.35 Stevenson v. Directors, 111 80,117,137, 139 171 Story's Conflict of Laws 119 Stuokeyy. Churchman, 111. App 140 Stuart V. District, Mich 10 Sturgis, Sheehan v.. Conn 121, 135 Taft, B'd of Edu. d.. 111. App 112 Tappan V. People, 111 110 Taylor v. Directors, 111 112 Tazevrell Co., People i'.. Ill 114 Thatcher v. People, 111 109 Thatcher v. People, 111 112 Thatcher v. People, 111 112 Thomas v. Urbana, 111 154 Thomastown, Geddes v., Mich 211 Thompson v. Beaver, 111 68, 122 Thompson v. District, Pa 153 Thompson v. Trustees. Ill 19,184,185 Thornton, Mills v.. Ill 109 Tingley v. Vaughn, 111. App 142 Townsend-y. Trustees, N. J 55 Treasui-er, State v., Ohio 55 Troutt, Eoberson v., 111. App... 120,138.142 Trustees v. Braner, 111 86 Trustees v, Davison, 111 193 Trustees I'. Directors, 111 68 PAGE. Trustees i'. Directors, 111 68 Trustees, Greenleaf v.. Ill 10,44 Trustees, Holbrooky., Ill 93 Trustees, Humiston v.. Ill 92 Trustees, Lovingston v.. Ill 92,199,209 Trustees, McHenry v.. Ill 193 Trustees, Miller v.. Ill 68 Trustees v. Misenheimer, 111 192, 199 Trustees, Moore v.. Ill 191 Trustees, People i;. , 111 43, 104, llff Trustees, People v.. Ill 44,229 Trustees 0. People, 111 82,122.144 Trustees, People v. , 111 63, 116 Trustees, People i'.. Ill 10,94 Trustees, Potter v.. 111. App 65,71 Trustees. Potter v. , 111. App 183 Trustees -y. Smith: lU 184 Trustees, Thompson v.. Ill 19,184,18.5. Trustees, Townsend 11., N. J 55- Univ. V. Co. Champaign. Ill 10 Univ. Chicago v. People, 111. 10 Urbana, Thomas v.. Ill 154 Vaughn, Tingley v.. 111. .App 142^ Virginia, Beardstown v.. Ill 49 Watson V. Abry, 111. App 154 Weber 1'. O. & M. E'y Co., Ill 107 Weir I'. Day, Ohio 91 Wells 11. People, 111 172,173 Whitford. State v.. Wis 39 Wiley V. Com'rs, Md 40 Wilkins v . Marshall. HI 49 Williams. State I'., Ohio 138 Wilhams, State i'., Vt 1-37 Wilson V. Directors, 111 85, 86 Wilson v. G-arrard, 111 86 Wiltshire, People y.. Ill 109 Windsor, McCutchen y.. Mo 137 Winnetka, Sherlock y.. Ill 91,114 Wolf, Perkins y., la 17S Wood, Morrow «., Wis 144 Wright, Jones u.. Mich 92 Wrigiey, in matter of, N. Y 119 Zane, Judge C. S 104 INDEX. PAGE. Accounts of township treasurer. . .185, 186 subject to inspection 54, 186 witli scliool districts. . . .185, 187, 197, 198 Actions against— borrower of school funds. . 193, 194, 196 collector of taxes 110, 205, 206 members of school boards 235, 236 persons not paying over fines. .227, 228 persons preventing colored chil- dren from attending school 237 purchaser of school lands 231 school officers 209-212 teachers 212 treasurers 62, 183, 199, 200, 250 trespasser on school property.. 87, 226 trustees 56,62.199,209 Acts, official, recorded 54, 56, 95. 100,218 221 special, relinquished 215, 219, 225 repealed 233 Adjournment to peifect petition 58, 67 Administrators' iireference of debts.. 193 Advertisement of land sales 93, 94, 230 of school site 85 Advice by Co. sup't 31, 33 by state superintendent 16 Age of school child 114, 118 Apparatus, purchase of 103-105 Appeal, from trustees to Co. sup't. .59, 60, 69 to two Co. sup'ts 69 to state superintendent 31,38 Apportionment by auditor 205,206 deductions from 207 by Co. superintendent 26, 27 by trustees 76, 77 Appraisal of school lands 230,231 of district property 61, 72 Assessor notes number of district 108 Assistant of Co. sup't 31,33 compensation of 207,208 Assistant teacher, certificate of 173 employed by directors 138 Attachment, writ of 1.54 Auditor to apportion funds 205, 206 to issue patents for school lands . 2.32 to issue duplicates 233 to issue warrant to pay Co. sup't. 207 transcript of land sales filed by. . . 232 Ballot, second not taken 153 Ballots, at election of directors 97, 98 at election of trustees 48 blank, effect of 151 excess of 50 must be specific 48 Bible and religious exercises in schools 125 Board of education, appointed 221, 241 elected 216,223,243 funds subject to order of 218,221 in cities of 2,000 216, 222-225 organization of 218,242 petitions to authorize ac- tion 217,224 Same — Continued. page. president of 218, 241, 242 quorum of 241, 242 report of 218,225 term of office in 216 vacancies in 223 vote to authorize action 224 in cities of 100,000 219, 226 leases and loans by 221 exclusive powers of 220 report of 221 term of office in 221 Bond, of Co. superintendent 19,20 of state superintendent 15 of township treasurer 182 approval of by trustees 182,183 approval of by Co. sup't 24, 25 insufficient 182, 183 new one given 1.83 only one required 183 Bonds for building purposes... 110, 111,224 director not to buy of board. . .103, 113 amount designated, limited 110-112 payable at tw'p treasury 114 refunded 114,248 registered 110,113 with state auditor 114 sale below par unlawful 113 sinking fund for 114 term limited .11, 112 vote for issue needed...ll0-112. 114, 248 Bondsman not released 184 Books, see "Text books." Books, etc., not sold by teachers and school officers 10, 212 Boundaries, see "District boundaries." Branches of stiidy determined by directors 115,143 1.56,163 by voters 156.163 see. also, "Teachers' certificate ;" "Pupils." Calendar of elections, etc 251 Census of children 41, 82, &3, 96 appoi-tionments based on. 26, 76. 205,206 special and general 219,222 Certificate of tax levy 106, 107 in districts in two or more coun- ties 106,107 essential 107 Certificate, teachers' 155 a commission 163 Co. sup'ts discretion regai'ding... 157 Co. sup't to issue 155 examination for 155, 160 must betaken 160 suggestions upon 158 expiration of during term 171 fee for 164,167 good for entire term 171 grades of 155,160 qualifications for 1.55, 156 record of 150,163 renewal of 155, 161 revocation of 141, 165, 161 INDEX. 263 :Same— Continued. page. afisistant, special and substitute teachers to have --- j/^ ^IqXq 156, loj teachers must all have .137, 171-173, 215 Certiorari, writ of o» Challenge of voter. --■ 4J ■Changes of text books ns. i« Children, colored, nghts of........23o-2^7 illiterate reported 17, 83, % Ji^ number in schools |^ »^ number under 21 ...... u, so apportionment on — Zb,Z7,ii, 205 -- -''6 -Cities and tOAvns under general law— of 2, 1100 inhabitants .21">, ^.if^ of 100, 0(H) inhabitants 219, 22b under special laws.... 44,103,104, 174,213,219,241 r-A"^, of •Clerk of board of directors x:.*'?;-J^r,f,R compensation of ..--%. 12, 209 duties of 90,100,101,197 of board of 'trustees, see "Tw'p Treasurer." ^ ^ „„, „„ of court to report fines, etc 227, ZZ^ of election liable -. ^y •Collectors, commissions of. .......... 1^9 to pay warrants to Co. sup t. . . .205, 206 to pay taxes to treasurer 18, 09 to state am't uncollected ... .108, 109 Colleges, etc., to report to state sup t 214 Colored children, rights of . .235-2^7 "Common school education defined 9 ■Common school lands ^^ certificate of purchase j^^j^ dedication of, for streets .238 exempt from taxation 10, 94 patents conveying -53^ rental of ^' see, also, "Real estate." •Compensation of school ofQcers— assistant of Co sup't - . .207, 208 clerk of school board. ..%. 102, 209 county sup't 10. 32. 206-2 8, 241 directors 102,208,209 state superintendent -^ n\t treasurer • - - - ■ = -■''■ -,-^J; trustees 77, 102, 208, 2n9 "Compulsory" law. jtrtrQ Condemnation of school site ....^115, I06 Consolidation of districts, see Dis- trict boundaries." , . „ of townships, see "Townships. •Constitution, provisions ot, on educa- tion ,--■•■,-, ■, <3ontracts of school boards— corporate not personal .54 , lib, 117 not made with members. . . .97, 102, 103 with a minor - - -103, 139 with a teacher is lor personal ser- vices 1* rules oi board part of 138 should be written 140 term of l^, validity of I'l trustees to observe - 72 Controversies under school law •--•gl'^8 appeal to state supt 31,38 hearing of -..-.f,- ■ - v ■ -„• - • - '* Conversion of funds, see Funds. Conveyances, by Co. sup t .42 by trustees ^-^'^f to cities in trust -/-i to trustees ■-■■•--• loi Corporal punishment, decisions.... 131 infliction of by teachers 135 PAGE. Corporation, board of directors, a.114,116 of education, a - . . - '-^16 of trustees, a ....42 43 54 school, how questioned.. -63, fab, 70, lib Costs of school officers ■.-:■--/;-• 1^^ County board, relations with Co. sup't 24,32,o7 bond of approved by 19 new one required 20 office and supplies furnished to .20, 21 removal of 20 to examine report ot land sales.. 232 vacancy in office of 20 County clerk, may order election of "frustGC^ ....... 45 map filed:::::: !.'.'.'."59,'66;62, 6.3.106, 107 hst of taxpayers filed .59,60,62,63,106 to compute district taxes 107 to certify to treasurer 108 to record land sales 232 to transmit Co. sup't's bill to au- ditor 207,208 County fund, see "Fund, county." County sup't of schools 10,18 as city sup't or teacher 41 as township treasurer 41 assistant of 31, 33, 207, 208 bills of 207.208,240 bondandoathof 19,20 certificates, to grant 155,156 discretion in regard to 157 may renew or revoke 155, 156 to record 156,163 cities under special laws to re- port to 213.215 commissions paid to 2:^,206,207 compensation of 206, 240 county school fund held by. 30, 200, 201 constitutional provisions con- cerning 10 custodian of election returns SS delivery to successor 29 director, removed by — 210, 211 election of ordered by 47, 95. 99 division of time by 31,32,37 examination of teachers by.. 155, 156-160,164 165 fees collected by 164,165 how used 164, 16 1 fines, etc., duties as to 227,228 institutes promoted by 31,33,35 conducted by 165, 167 liable for loss of funds 19 office and office furniture for — 20, 21 office expenses of 20,21 real estate held by 42 relations with county board.. 24, 32, 37 removal of 20,21,29 report of, to county board — 23, 24, 232 to state superintendent 28,29 to trustees of paym't to treas. 240 sale of lands by, see "Common school lands." school supervised by 31, 32, 35, 36 school funds apportioned by — 26. 27 withheld 26,27 teachers examined by.. 155, 156-1 60 164 165 to advise teachers and officers.. 31, 33 to hear appeals 59,60,69 to hear controversies 31,38 to transmit statement of, to state superintendent 31,38 treasurers' bonds approved by.. 24. 25 increase of demanded 182,183 books examined by 31, 40 statement of loans made to .188, 192 264 INDEX. me — Coniimied. page trustee, election of ordered by 46, 47 trustees' report to 82 83 obtained by, if neglected 41*42 vacancy in office of 20 warrants paid in full to .'.'.'.\. 206 Day, the school 150 Debt, bonded, how disposed of wheii district lines are changed. 57, 66, 74 75 Debts deducted %\ 74 due school fund preferred .'." 193 trustees may compromise ... 93 Declamation and composition writ- ing 144 Deed of school site to trustees 84,85 Default of paym't of loans or inter- est 194 Diploma of Co. normal school. ""156,163 Directors of schools, action by- authorized by vote 97, 98, 105, 111-115, 1.50-153, 156 163 to add "other branches". 98,1.56, 163 to build school house 97, 115, 152 to enlarge house 112 to issue bonds 97, 111 to lengthen term of school. .98,115 tolevyatax 105 to locate site 97, 115, 151, 152 to move house 97,115 to purchase house 97,115 to refund bonds 97,114 authorized without a vote 98, 105 apparatus purchased by 103, 105 body politic and corporate, a.. 114, 116 acts as such at meetings.. 100,116 purposes of 116 bond not given by, on appeal.. ' 155 bonds of, not taken by 103 113 branches of study prescribed , by 115.143,156,163 business of, how transacted. 95, 100, 116 clerk of, see "Clerk." contracts by, see "Contracts by school boards." election of 94,97 ballots at "."" '97 contested \\\ 97 informalities in '"' 97 in new district 60,71 in dis't in two counties 59 97' 99 judges of 95,96,97 notices of 95,98 on Saturday 95,99 ordered by Co. sup't 95,' 99 by tw'p treasurer 95 99 plurality elects "97 postponed 95 97 aualiflcations of voters. . 97 return of 96 101 tie vote 95,97 elections on special questions, called by 97, 99, 111, 11,5, 150 blank ballots at 151 conduct of, see above under "directors," "authorized to vote," and "election." day of 99 not called by Co. sup't or treas. 99 notices of 98,112,150 second ballot at, illegal 98, 153 second election for ' isi tie vote at \\ 151 interest in contracts by board, prohibited to 97, 1(12 janitor provided by ' 89 judgments against 154, 155 fraudulently obtained 155 liability of 114,116,117,1.50 for costs 154 '&avLie— Continued. page for conversion of funds . . . 209' for dismissal of teacher . 141 for expulsion of pupils . iis, 145 for failure in duty 210 211 212 for loss of funds 21l'212 for making and enforcing rules' 136 for schedules 179 180 for perversion of funds. ' lo' 212 when school house is used for meetings 90 library purchased by ! iios.'ioi, 105 may build on old site.. . 151 may choose site, when ii5 153 may not be teachers in their own district 103 may not be trustees ". 97 102 meetings of 96,100.101,116 notices of 54, 96, 100 . special 96, 100 minor child of director not em- ployed by 103 minors, contracts with... 139 non-residence constitutes va- cancy .97, 102 not hable to garnishment 154 not hable to mechanic's lien 154 orders of. void when loO, 247 see "Orders." organization of 95,99 in new district 60! 71 poll-book returned by 96.97 101 powers of, limited ne president of " 95 pupils, see "Pupils." quorum oi , ... 114 ng records kept by 96^100 submitted to treasurer 96' 101 removal of by Co. sup't 210 211 report by to treasurer 06 101 to voters 96, ioi, 197 rules and regulations made by .115, 122 schedules, duties in regard to, 1J6,179 180 school house, duties regarding, see "School house." school moneys used for what. by. 103,104 schools, closed by 1.39 181 duties regarding 115il20 sui-render of control of, by, forbidden 121 visitation of, by ii5 137 site, school, chosen by 115' 153- not to be bought by, of a di- rector 103 see "Site." taxes, power of to levy 10.3-105 certificate of levy of 106,107 in two counties 106, 107 return of 106, 107 to cover expenses for how long 107 see Taxes." teachers, dismissed by 115 141 employed by 115, 137 not for following year 139 payment of. by 171, 176, 178, 181 term of office of 94 in new district ,' 60 treasurer, exhibit of , to i97, 198: trespass, action of. by 87 . vacancy in board of 94, 99 Dismissal of school 117, 139, 179, 181 of teacher 115 141 Distributable fund, held by Co.'sup't.' 23.164 167 . by tw p treasurer 76, 77, 185. 186 District, boundaries of, how changed,57,63 appraisal of property, etc 61.73 INDEX. 265 Sajne—Gontinued. page. bonded debts 57, 6(j, 74, 75 classes of changes 57,63 division of funds 61. 71 election for 57, 66 jurisdiction of trustees 64 made at April meeting 57, 63 by Co. sup't 59,60.69 maps, etc., filed 59. 60, 63, 71, 106 petition for 57, 58, 64, 66-68 review of upon writ of certiorari. 68 not to be made if new district will have less than 10 families. 57, 64 Districts, designation of 57 dissolution of— no school 62,76 elections in, see under "Direct- ors," "election" and "elections" formation of 57, 63, 219, 225 legality of questioned 63,68 legahzed 238 .fractional, polling places in 51 funds credited to 78 how expended 201, 202 in new townships 57 in two counties, election in 59,70 liable to others 75 limit of debt of 11,110,112 of school term of. Wd, 104,114, 117, 217 of taxation by 103, 104 may not waive rights 75, 155 new, elections in 60,71 not liable for injury to pupils on school premises. 89 overpayment of 78 special, see "Cities under special laws." and "Special laws." of 400 inhabitants 239 taxes, see "Taxes." union, see "Union districts," see also, "District, boundaries of." Diversion of funds, see "Funds." Division of property of districts.. 61, 71,73 Donations, grants, etc., for school purposes 10, 84 for sectarian purposes prohi- bited 10,212 Education in the constitution 9-11 Elections, school, see under "Board of Education," "Directors" "Dis- trict, boundaries of," "County su- perintendent," "State superintend- ent," "Trustees" and "Speciallaws." Eligibility to school offices. . . .44, 54, 97, 102 ability to read and write not a test of 45 of women 234 Enumeration of children, see "Census." Epidemic, schools closed 139,181 Examination of books, etc.— of Co. sup't by Co. board ... .22, 23, 232 of treasurer, by Co. sup't 31,40 by trustees 186 Examinations of teachers, see "Cer- tificate, teachers'," "County super- intendent," "Teachers." by board of education.. 215, 217, 220, 224 expenses of 164, 167 notices and number of 164, 165 state superintendent's 156, 163 Executors' preference of school debts 193 Exemptions of directors and trustees 208 209 Expenses, Co. sup't's 20,21 Expulsion of pupils 115, 145, 150 continues how long 149 decisions upon 145-149 in certain eases 149 Fines, see "Penalties." —17 PAGE. Fines and forfeitures 227, 228 Forfeiture of funds by townships. 78, 83, 84 may be remitted 83 Forms 251 Fractional townships, see "Town- ships, fractional." Free schools established 9, 15 Fund, county 200, 201 interest of, distributed 30, 200, 201 lands, belonging to 42 principal loaned 30, 200, 201 report of 2.^ Fund, district 201 account with 185, 186, 187 disposition of when district is dissolved 62, 75, 7& division of 61,72 how paid out 201, 202 paid for what purposes 103. 104, 105 surplus loaned .188. 192 treasurer holds 91,92 union district's 202, 203 Fund, state 10,204,205 apportionment from 204, 205, 206 Fund, township 200 additions to 196, 20O income of, distributed 200, 201 principal of 185,186,200' loaned 187, 188-197, 20O treasurer holds 91, 92 Funds, see "Apportionment of funds." Co. sup't liable for loss of 19 diversion of 105, 154 not subject to taxes 10, 11, 94 school officers liable— for conversion of 209 for loss of 211,212 for perversion of 10, 212 treasurer Uable for loss of 182, 18.3: Furniture, school, purchase of 103 sale of by school olflcers pro- hibited 10, 212 Garnishment, of school board 154 General Assembly to provide free schools 9 Graduates of county normal schools 156 163 High school, a part of school system 9,143,156 163 High school, township, see "Town- ship high school." Highest candidate ineligible 50 Holidays 179, 180, 181 Illiteracy, report of 17,83 Indictment of school officers 209, 212 of trespasser 226 Informalities in elections 50, 97 Informer to receive half 226 Institute fund, source of 164, 170 how held 164,167 how paid out 21, 164, 167 report of, to county board..23, 165, 167 Institutes, attendance upon 165, 170, 240 conduct of 167 Co. sup't to hold 31, 35, 165, 167, 170 fees for 164, 165, 170 teachers for 170 Insurance of school houses 88 Interest, action to recover 194 added to principal 196, 197. 200, 201 apportioned 30, 200, 201 extra, calculation of 194 on teachers' orders 177, 179 how stopped 177,179 penalty for non-payment 194 rate on loans 187, 188 266 INDEX. Sarae— Continued. page. on probated claims 193 state to pay ...204,205 Judges of election, may not convene after adjournment 50 of directors 95, 97 return of poll- book by. . . .9ti, 97, 101 of trustees 45, 47, 48 return made by 49,52 liable for permitting illegal voting 49 to settle a tie vote 49, 52, 95, 151 Judgments, against purchaser of school lands 231 against school officers 154 fraudulently obtained 155 Justices, duties of, regarding fines, etc 227,228 Lands, see "Common school lands and Real estate." Levy of taxes, see "Taxes." Liabilities, see "Penalties." Libraries, school, provision for.. .103, 104 105 Lien, mechanics', on school property 154 on real estate of school officers.. 210 Limit of indebtedness 110,112 of taxation 103, 104 Loans of county fund 30, 200 of district funds, surplus 188,192 of township funds.. 187,188,197,200,201 not made to trustees and treas- urer 1 89 records of 22, 23, 185 to school districts 187, 189 Loss of funds 19,211,212 "Lost" time 180 Making fires, sweeping, etc S9, 140 Mandamus, writ of, to compel— directors to act 153 levy of tax 154 treasurer to file list and map 71 trustees to consider petition 63, 67 Map of township 57, 59, 106, 107 failure to file 71 Meetings of directors 95, 100. 101 of trustees 54 in school houses 85, 90 Minor, contract with 103, 139 granting certificate to 156 Mortgages, form for 192 valid in name of Co. sup't 30, 188 others vahd 192,193 release of 189 Natural sciences, examination upon, 155 160 Night schools 120 Normal schools, county 246 graduates of 156,163 Note in place of a bond 113 Notes, examined by trustees 197, 198 list given Co. sup't 188, 192 in name of Co. sup't 188 in name of trustees 188 Notice, of district election 95. 97. 98 must state questions 46, 97, 98 of examination of teachers 164, 165 by state sup't 156,163 of sale of lands 230 to district of proposed change.. . .58, 66 Oath, official, of Co. sup't 19 of state superintendent 15 trustees, treasurer and directors nottotake 56 Office supplies of Co. sup't 20, 21 Officers, exempt from road labor, etc., 208 209 ^ame—Contimied. page. .judgments against 154 liabilities of. see "Penalties." lien on real estate of 210 read and write, abihty to, not re- quii-ed of 45 resignation of 20, 21. 52 Ofllcial bonds, see "Bonds." Orders, school, form of 202, 203 against uncollected taxes 247 teachers', draw interest when . .177, 179 drawn when 176, 178, 247 substance of 176,178 treasurer not to pay when 202, 203 Organization, of board of directors.. 95, 99 of board of education 218, 226, 242 of board of trustees 54, 56 of cities under general law 219, 225 of new district 59, Tl Overpayment of district 78 Owner refuses to sell site 115, 153 Parents must send children to school 234 Penalties, recovery of 210, 211 Penalties, who subject to— any person, for damaging school house 87 for disturbing a school 87 for illegal voting 49 for interfering at election 245 for keeping colored children from attending school 237 for not sending children to school 234 for refusing to perform duty at election 245 for trespass 226 any school officer— for conversion of funds 209 for loss of funds 211, 212 for neglect of duty 210,211, 235 for perversion of funds 212 cities, for failure to report 213 clerk or judges, for permitting illegal voting 49 clerks, state's attorneys and jus- tices for not reporting and pay- ing fines, etc 227,228 collector, for failure to pay 110, 205 county board, for not examining report of sale 232 county sup't, for not making re- port to state sup't 28, 29 directors, see "Directors liable." judges of election, for failure to make return 52, 53 parents, for keeping children from school 234 purchaser of lands, for non-pay- ment 231 teachers, for not making sched- ules 177,179 townships for failure to deliver report 83,84 treasurer, see "Treasurer liable." trustees, see "Trustees liable." Permits, duration of 79, 80 Perversion of funds 10,212 Petitions, for change of district lines 57,64 66 action upon by trustees 67 error in 64 filed 20 days 58,66 filing fixes status of 65 "form" distinguished from "sub- stance" 58, 68 forms of 57, 64 must make a case 65 change of not admissible 64 INDEX. 267 Same — Continued. page- notiee of to districts 58. 66 purpose of 57, 64 remonstrance against 68 before county superintendent.59, 60, 69 unnecessary 76 for organization under general law 219,225 for purchase of site 217.224 for sale 85,91,229 Picnics and prizes, expenses of 104 Plat of common school lands 230 Plurality elects 49, 97 Poll-book, election of directors.96,97,101 election of trustees 49 evidence of election 53 Polling-places, at election of trust- QQQ _. 47 51 Polls', how iong'open".". '.'.'. '.'.'.' '.'. '.". '. 47, 95! 97 not duly opened 50 Postponement of election, of direc- tors 95,97 of trustees 45, 46 President, of board of directors 95 pro tern, appointed 96 of board of education.. 217, 226, 241 duties of 241 election of 241 of board of trustees 54 Proceedings, official, to be recorded 96 100 Property, appraised and divided.. 61, 71,73 75 on dissolution of district .62,75,76 private, used by school children. . 86 teachers to account for 171, 174, 176 titleto 84,85 union districts 62, 76 Pupils, age of 114,118 age and name of, noted on regis- ter 174,175 in schedule 175 assignment of to schools 115, 142 attendance of, noted 174-177 reported 17, 82 choice of studies by 143 conduct of, away from premises. 124 corporal punishment of 131 entitled, to equal pi'ivileges 120 exclusion of in certain cases 149 has no contract with teacher 140 injurie s to 89 janitor work not required of 89 religious freedom allowed 125 residence of 114, 118 suspension and expulsion of . .115, 145, 149, 218 220 continues how long 149 transferred 79-81 tuition paid for, by 119 Qualifications of teachers 155, 156. 158 of voters 47,49,52,97 Quorum of directors 114,116 of trustees 55 Rate of interest, see "Interest." Eeal estate, Co. sup't to hold to 42 exempt from taxation 10, 11, 94 leased 93,94 lien on that of school officers 210 sale of 42, 85, 91, 93, 94, 218, 221, 225 security for loans 187-189. 192, 193 taken for indebtedness 93 trustees to hold 93 valued how 189, 193 see also "Common school lands." Eeceipts for schedules 176,178 Eecords, of Co. sup't of action on ap- peal 70 Same—Co7itinned. page. of certificates granted 156, 163 of land sales 22,23,2.32 submitted to Co. board 232 of directors 95, 100 submitted to treasurer 96, 101 of sale of lands and of loans 22, 232 of state superintendent 15 of treasurer 185,186 open to inspection 186 submitted to trustees 197 of trustees 54, 56 Register of bonds 110,113 Registers, school, books furnished by directors 174,177 form of 175 Religious exercises in schools 125 kept by teachers 82,174,177 returned by same 174,177 Removal by director or trustee.. 97.102 Reports,of board of education. 218, 221, 225 of county superintendent 23, 28, 232 of custodians of funds 249,250 of directors 96,101,197 of fines, etc 227, 228 of institutions of learning 214 of land sales 232 of state superintendent 16 of treasurer 197, 198 of trustees 82,83 value of, when accurate 28 Resignations, provisions regarding. 21, 52 Rules and regulations, of board of education 218, 220 of directors 115, 120 decisions upon 122 concerning conduct of pupils away from premises 124 power to make 122 liability for 126 made by state superintendent I7 made bv teacher 12o Sale, of real estate, see "Real estate." of school books, limitations 10, 212 of school property 85, 91, 104, 106 Schedules, certificates upon, forms 175 176 delivery of, to directors 176,179 to treasurer 179, 180 directors liable for 179, 180 incomplete 178 of school with more than one teacher 174 receiptfor 176,178 separate, when 176, 178 Scholars, see "Pupils." School, legal 77 School books, see "Text books." School books, etc., not to be sold by officers and teachers 10,212 School day 150 School districts, see "Districts." School funds, see "Funds." School house, in another district 118 building of, vote for 105, 115, 151 bonds for 110,111 controlled by director s 85, 87, 88 doors to open outwards 87 exempt from taxation...: 11,86 from mechanics' lien 87 highway to 86 insurance of 88 meetings in 85,90 purchase of 113 renting of 117 repairing and improving of 88, 112 sale of 85.91 site of 115,153 title to, in trustees 84,85 268 INDEX. PAGE. School lands, see "Common school lands" and"Eeal estate." School month.. .' 179,180 School site, see "Site." School year 17, 76, 103, 104, 114, 117, 217 Schools, closed by directors 139,181 disturbing of, penalty 87 management of 115, 120, 218, 220, 242 normal, county 245 province of 9. 115, 163 special laws concerning, forbid- den 11 support of 103,217,219,220,242 term of .103. 104, 114, 117, 217 visitation of . ...30,32,33,115,137,217,220 Secretary of board of education.. 218, 226 Sectarian appropriations prohibited 10 212 Security on bonds, see "Bonds." Security, additional required 193 ' personal 187,189,193 real estate 187, 189, 193 improvements not valued 189, 193 Sinking fund 114 Site, for school house, choice of. ..115,153 deedof ...:. 85,86 district should own 85 does not revert 86 leased 85 Sixteenth section, constitutes com- mon school lands 226 others in lieu of 226 Special acts, modified ....103,104,174. 213,211. -.ilCi, 211, 242 244 reliiKiuislird 214,219,225 not repealed 213,214 Special teachers must have certifi- cates 173 State's attorneys, in- regard to fines, etc 227,228^ .State certificates 156, 163 State funds 204, 20i^ Statements, see "Reports." State superintendent, see "Superin- tendent of public instruction." Statistics, see "Reports." Substitute, employed by whom 138 must have certificate 173 Suits, see "Actions." Superintendent of public instruction 11 15 advice given by 16,18 approves institute teachers 165,170 authority of recognized by courts 17 certificate granted or revoked by 156 163 correspondence of 16 disposition of moneys received by 16 election of 11, 15 forfeitures remitted by 83 funds withheld by 18 oath and bond of 15 records of 15 report of 16 rules made by 17 salary and expenses of IS term of office of 11,15 Superintendent of city schools — 173,217 Co. sup't may not be a 41 Sureties, see "Bond, official." Suspension, see "Expulsion." Table of cases 258 Taxes for school purposes 103, 104, 204 board of education may levy.. 217, 220,222,223 243 collector of 108,109,110 directors may levy .103, 105 Same — Continued. page. same, amount specified, when 104 same, limited 103, 104 same, without vote, when 105 excess in 10i> funds and property exempt. . .10. 11,94 in special district 216 levy for township high school ...79,81 uniformity of levy of 108 Tax-payers, list of, filed. 59, 60,62, 6.3, 71, 114 Teachers, appointment of 115,217,220 attendance of, upon institutes. 170, 240 board of directors, relations of, with 120,137,140 contract of, with school board 137 is for personal services 138 observed by trustees 72 rules of board and provisions of law a part of 138 term of 137,139,171 corporal punishment, inflicted by 131 dismissal of 115, 141.21^,220,224 decisions upon 141 examination of . . 1 55, 156, 164, 217, 22n, 224 janitor work not required of — 89, 140' hable for making and enforcing rules 136 property accounted for, by .171, 174, 176 register kept by .174, 177 re-instatement of 162: resignation of 139 schedules made by 171, 175, 177 certified 176 suspension by 150 wages of, cannot be paid, when. 171, 176 for fraction of month 180, 181 unpaid, draw interest . .176, 179,247 when due 176, 178 Teachers' certificates, see "Certifi- cates.' Teachers' institutes, see "Institutes." Term of office, of boards of educa- tion 242 of county superintendent 10,19 of directors 94, 9& in new district 60 of state superintendent 11,15 of township treasurer 54, 56 of trustees 43, 45 of president of 54 Text-books, uniformity of 115,145 bought for poor pupils 115,145 not for all 145 changes of 115.145 Tie vote 49,50,95,97,151 Title to school property 84,85,221 defective 86- to common school lands 2:>2 Tobacco on school premises 125 Town meeting, trustees elected at. .47,51 Towns, see "tlities and towns." Township, school, alterations in 42, 44, 229' business of, done by trustees... 43, 226 congressional made 42 districts should include 63- divided by county lines, elections in 46 reports of 82-84 fraef ional, consolidated 42, 229 entitled to funds 26 fund of, see "Fund, township." may support a high school 79, 81 may unite for same purpose 79 not a civil town 44 Township high school 79,81 Township treasurer, accounts of. . .84, 185,186 l!)7-19a examined by trustees 84, 197 by Co. sup't 31,40 open to inspection 54, 186- INDE5. 269 HsLUie—Gontinued. page. appointment of 54,56 bond of, approved by trustees..! 82, 183 by Co. sup't 21,25,182,183 form of 182,183 increased when 182, 183 new one when 27, 183 books, etc.. demanded by 196 cash of, verified 41,198,199 clerlt of trustees, to be 54 compensation of 77,208.209 delivery to successor 199,200 election ordered by 47, 60, 95. 99 returns of held by 102 funds, custodian of 27, 28, 91, 92 to loan, see "Fund, tw'p." to pay out on orders, see "Fund, dis't." liable for— failure of duty ... .62,71, 183, 191, 199 not liable for 199 failure to return statistics 213 loss of funds 183,211,212 retaining funds 199, 200 not publishing statement.. 249, 250 loans not made to 187 map, etc., filed by 59,60,62,63, 71,106 107 notes, etc., submitted to trustees, 197 198 report to Co. sup't 188.192 orders paid by, see "Orders." removal of 91, 93 residence in special dis't 44 statement, to directors 197, 178 to trustees 197, 198 published annually 249 to examine dis't records 96,101 to return tax levy 106, 107 to sue, forinterest 194 if security is not increased. . . 193 transfers, duty of, concerning... 79-81 vacancy in office of 54,56 who eligible to be 44,54 Transfer of pupils 79,80,175,178 Treasurer of special dis't 216 Treasurer, see "Township treasurer." Trespass on school property 87,226 Trustees of schools, a body politic and corporate 43 acts as such only 54 compensation of 77, 102, 209 debts compromised by 93 dedication of land for streets by . 238 districts organized by 57 map of filed 57 dis't boundaries changed, by.. 57 action upon 67 appeal from 59, 60, 69 concurrent action 57, 63, 68 jurisdiction regarding 64 mandmnns 63, 67 property divided 61, 71, 75 previous contracts observed.. 72 dis'ts, special, not changed by. 64, 215 donations, etc., made to. , 84 election of 43. 44, 45 at town meeting 47, 51 conduct of 4.5, 48, 51 contested 50 Co. sup't may order 46, 47 first 45 notice of 45, 46 plurality elects at 49 postponed 45, 46 ^ajoae—Vontinued. page. qualifications of voters 47-46 return of 52, 53 not made 53 tie at 49,50,52 treasurer may order ^ 45 funds apportioned by 7fi, 77 high school managed by 79, 81 liable for— conversion of funds 209 false return of statistics 210 insufficiency of treasurer's bond 209 loss of funds 31,199,211.212 not dividing property 62 not organizing 56 not returning statistics. . .41, 83, 210 loans not made to 45, 97, 103, 189 may be a teacher 45 may not be a director 44, 97, 102 may live in special dis't 44 may not take funds from Treas ... 92 meetings of -54, 56 not to be interested in contracts.97,102 not to release treasurer and his bondsmen 184 organization by 54, 56 quorum of 54. 55 real estate leased by 93, 94. 237 purchased by 93 sold by 93.94 records of 54,56 relation of to state.... 43.91,93 removal of treasurer by 91, 93 report of 41,42,82,83 successors to "Trustees of school lands." 53 term of office of 43,45,48 title to property in 84,85 to appoint treasurer 54, 56 to approve his bond 182,183 to examine his books, etc 186, 197 vacancy in office of 45, 46, 52 who eligible to office of 44, 45 Tuitionfees 119 Union school district- dissolution of 62, lb funds with one treasurer 202,203 report of ,8^ taxes of K'9,110 vacancy in board of 99 see, also, "District" and "Districts." Vacancies— in board of education 221. 223 inboard of directors 95,97,99 inboard of trustees 45,46,52 in office of Co. sup't 20 Vacations 179-181 Vote on school questions.. 97, 110-112, 114, 115, 151 '-^ai asecond vote on -. 151 not on same day 98, 153 of no effect 93,98,105 Voters, challenged ---- 49 in divided tw'ps or dists 49,59,70 may add higher branches 156, 163 qualifications of 47, 49. 52, 216 residence of 49, 59, 70 Warrants issued by auditor 205,206 see also "'Orders." Year, school 17, Something New and Practical! FOB TEACHING YOUNG PUPILS. How to Use the English Language, By W. B. Powell, A. M., Superintendent Schools, Washington, D. C. HOW TO SEE. Price, 30 cents. HOW TO TALK. Int. price, 42 cents. Ex. price, 25 cents. HOW TO WRITE. Int. price. 60 cents. Ex. price, 35 cents. Their purpose is to guide the young learner in tlie correct use of the language at the time when he is forming habits of speech. Readers and Spellers. Introductory. Exchange. Monroe's New Primer J5 .09 Monroe's New First Reader 20 .12 Monroe's New Second Reader .30 .18 Monroe's New Third Reader 42 .25 Monroe's New Fourth Reader .66 .40 Monroe' s New Fifth Reader 84 .50 Monroe's First Steps in Spelling .18 .08 Monroe's Practical Speller .25 .10 Monroe's Writing Speller (per dozen) .42 Warren's Geographies. NEW editions; reduced peices. Warren's Primary Geography .48 .25 Warren's Brief Course Geography .9() .50 Warren's Common School Geography 1.08 .tiO Warren's Physical Geography .• 1.35 .75 These contain an eight-page Illinois supplement, comprising the most complete text and map of Illinois ever pubhshed in a school geography. Mathematics. Hagar's Primary Lessons in Numbers .22 .10 Hagar's Elementary Arithmetic .30 .15 Hagar's Common School Arithmetic .72 .30 Hagar's Elementary Algebra .90 .49 Greene's Grammars. Greene's Introduction .40 .20 Greene's English Grammar .75 .35 Greene's New Analysis .86 .40 Charts. _ ., „ . Retail Price. Monroe's Reading Charts— full series, 56 Nos $10 00 Monroe's Reading Charts— Abridged series, 24 Nos 6 00 Parker's Arithmetical Charts— 56 Nos 9 00 Miscellaneous. Introductory. Hagar's Dictation Problems .36 The Geographical Question Book -24 Knisely's Arithmetical Questions -30 Cowdery's Elementary Mural Lessons -68 Monroe's Physical and Vocal Training -72 Apgar's New Geographical Drawing Book .42 Sample copies, for examination, sent prepaid on receipt of introduction price- Liberal terms for first introduction. Catalogue, specimen pages and price lists sent free of charge. Address. F. S. BEL.DEN, 184 Wabash Ave., Chicago, 111. COWPERTHWAIT & CO., Publishers. Almira College, GEEENVILLE, ILLINOIS. Founded 1855. v^-' imr It has an efficient corps of teachers, and offers excellent op- portunities for the study of the modern languages, art, elocu- tion, and vocal and instrumental music, in addition to the regular college course. Its aim is to do well whatever it attempts. The college building, an elegant brick structure, erected ex- pressly for school purposes, presents a front of 168 feet, and an average width of forty-eight feet. It is four stories high,, and contains seventy-two rooms. There are fifty dormitories, neat and convenient, for the accommodation of pupils. The college affords a safe, intelligent and delightful home for young ladies. Teachers and pupils being under one roof, there is no exposure to inclement weather, nor loss of attendance from this cause. The undersigned has given his personal attention to the man- agement of the school since the expiration of his term of office as State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Correspondence solicited. Address, JAMES P. SLADE, A. M., President. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS NORMAL UNIVERSITY CAR30NDALE. Established by Act of the General Assembly, March 9, 1869. The Purpose of the Institution is the PREPARATION OF TEACHERS For the Public Hchools of the State. THE COURSE OF STUDY Embraces the four lines of School Work — Language and Lit- erature, Mathematics and Natural Science, Mental Science, History and Philosophy. These are used as a basis to teach howjto prepare for the work of the schoolroom, THE FACULTY CONSISTS OF 15 TEACHERS. There are three courses, which merit Certificate or Diploma. LOCATION ADMIRABLE. The School Year begins the Second Monday in September, and ends the Second Tuesday in June. TUITION FREE TO TEACHERS. Eor Catalogue or information apply to EGBERT ALLYN, LL. D., Principal. E. J. INGEESOLL, Sechj of Trustees. «&5'i^§^S>aS^^a^^=S^^i^^^»^^S^3ff5^^¥aaBEg<.s^^^3!^:-iL-^ STATE NORMAL UNIVERSITY, NoEMAX,. McLean Co., iLLnsrois. This Institution was established, by the General Assembly of the State, in 1857. Its sole purpose is to prepare teachers for the schools of the State. The several grades of the Model Department are established to aid in this work. Nevertheless, these grades serve well the purpose of those wishing instruction in the subjects taught. Students in the Normal Department are required to declare that their pur- pose in attending is to fit themselves for teaching ; and all the work of the school is shaped to this single purpose. * Probably no other Normal School Faculty in the country embodies so much of successful experience in Normal School work as ours. Tuition is free to those who take a pledge to teach in the schools in Illinois. Our facilities for the study of Botany, Zoology, Geology, Chemistry, and Mineralogj^ are excellent, and we now offer them to such as desire to make those studies a specialty at a very small cost. THE HIGH SCHOOL grade of the Model Department offers the advantages of a first-class academy and preparatory school. There are two courses of study — the General and the Classical. Those who satisfactorily complete either course receive the Diploma of the University. Tuition in this grade, $80 a year. For particulars conceming the High School, address the Principal. THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL grade is under the charge of the Assistant Training Teacher; he does much of the teaching, sees that healthy discipline is maintained, and takes care that no improper or vicious pupils are admitted to the school. This school prepares pupils for the Normal Department, for the High School, or for general business. Tuition, $25 a year. For catalogues, etc., address, EDWIN C. HEWETT, President. well: noi m n AND SCHOOL OF INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION. Oeegon, — Illinois. E. L. WELLS, Principal. SPECIALTIES: State Ceetificate Work, County Certificate Work, Preparation for other Schools, Preparation for Business, School Management, and School Methods. No vacations. Studies optional. Students enter at any time, and stay as long as they please. Teachers spend their vacations in the most profitable drill-work. Many, besides teachers, attend the School. It is a good place for all young men and women who wish thorough instruction. SUMMER SCHOOL. The location is an admirable one for a Summer School. The town possesses some of the most beautiful scenery of Illinois, and is a popular summer resort. Many teachers of City Schools spend their summers in Oregon. STATE CERTIFICATE WORK. studies for State Examinations can be taken at any time ; but a special class for this kind of work will be formed nine weeks previous to the State Examinations for each year. Teachers wishing the best of advantages will do well to join this class. Persons wishing to take new studies for State Examination, should spend sulfl- cient time in the School to thoroughly pursue the same. The following are some of the Peculiarities of the School: 1. It is a good place for slow learners. 2. It is a good place for rapid learners. 3. It is a good place for students in poor health. 4. It is a good place for teachers in their vacations. 5. It is a good place for persons who wish to review their studies. 6. It is a good place for those who wish to study other languages. 7. It is a good place for those who wish to select their own studies. 8. It is a good place for persons who must attend school irregularly. 9. It is a good place for young people who wish to become teachers. 1'). It is a good place for farmers' boys and girls in summer or winter. 11. It is a good place for teachers desiring first grade or State certificates. 12. It is a good place for young people who wish a good business education. 13. It is a good place for those who wish to take vocal or instrumental music. 14. It is a good place for those who do not wish to be classified with younger pupils in other schools. Send for Circular and Cataloarme. RAND, MrNALLY & CO.'S ffif SEMES OF EDUCATIOML MAPS Especially Designed and Engraved for use in Schools. These Maps are distinguished by several new and useful features, being beauti- fully bold in outline, free from unimportant names, and so distinct that no difficulty is experienced in reading any name. They show the latest geographical discover- ies and political changes in every part of the world. They are handsomely and artistically colored, so that the political boundaries can be readily distinguished at a distance. The names of to-wns are engraved in clear, bold type, and the towns themselves are indicated by large black dots, so that the series can, if preferred, be used for "outline" maps. The lengths of the principal rivers and the altitudes of the highest mountains are engraved on the maps. THE ''RUBY" CASE, WITH SPRNG ROLLERS. THE HANDSOMEST AND HANDIEST. The Following Among Many Eminent Edncators Warmly Commend This Series. Edwin C. Hewett, LL. D„ President Illinois Normal University. EoBT. Allyn, D. D., LL. D., Principal Southern Illinois Normal University, Car- bondale, Illinois. Geo. Rowland, Superintendent Public Schools, Chicago, Illinois. J. Simpson Afeica, Secretary Internal Affairs, Harrisburg, Pa. M. B. Andekson, LL. D., President University of Eochester, N. Y. R, W. Stevenson, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Columbus, O. J. W. HoLCOMBE, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Indiana. David S. Joedan, President Indiana University. JOHN Clabk Ridpath, Author of "Ridpath's Cyclopedia of Universal History," Greencastle, Ind. W. H. Chandlee, Secretary Board of Regents, Normal School, Madison, Wis._ Albeet B. Watkins, Ass't Secretary. Regents of the University, Albany, N. Y. John M. B. Sill, Superintendent of Schools, Detroit. Mich. James B. Angell, LL. D., Pres't University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich. E. C. Delano, First Assistant Superintendent Public iSchools, Chicago, 111. J. C. BuEEouGHS, Second Assistant Superintendent Public Schools, Chicago, 111. James H. Smaet, President Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind. Geo. S. Bakee, Superintendent of Schools, Evanston, 111. Robert Geaham, State Superintendent of Schools, Madison, Wis. J. M. Geeenwood. Superintendent of Instruction, Kansas City, Mo. John Goodison, Department of Geography, Michigan State Normal School, Ypsilanti. Mich. E. P. Wateebuey. Ph. D., LL. D., President State Normal School, Albany, N. Y. Send for complete catalogue and price list of maps and cases, illustrated in colors, to RAND, McNALLY & CO., Map Publishers and Engravers, 148, 150, 152 and 154 Monroe St., Chicago. Better Than a Government Bond ! AN INVESTMENT POLICY IN THE OF DETROIT. J. S. Faeeand, President. O. E. LooKEE, Secretary. JANUAEY 1, 1887: Assets $1,765,333.13 Liabilities 1,460,107.39 SuEPLus 305,225.74 Amount of Insur- ance in force. . . 16,550,411.74 Am't paid policy holders 2,427,631.75 Organized 1867. Insurance written in 1886 $5, 404, 844 77 Increase over amount written inl8&5 1,171,252 77 Increase of insurance in force for 1886 2,862,19174 Increase of assets 227, 829 44 Increase of income 73,094 77 Increase in amount paid pol- icy holders (dividends, siu:- reudered values and ma- tured endowments) 39, 213 92 Reasons Why You Should Insure in this Company. Because it issues the Most Complete policy of any company in the world. Its Policies Insure against all contingencies and causes of death. Incontestable after three years. Cash values stated on all endowment policies after the third year. Its dividend record cannot be equaled. It paid its first dividend at end of first year after organiza- tion ; has never passed a dividend, never paid a dividend which has not been as large or larger than that paid on same policy the year previous. It is a Western Company, loans its money in the West, thereby securing a high rate of interest, which enables it to pay liberal dividends. TEACHERS Wishing to engage in the business of Life Insurance, either as_ Special or Local Agents, can make liberal contracts with this company. For terms, rates and circulars explaining plans, address, E. H. ELWELL, Manage?' Nor'thwestern Dep't, 169 La Salle St., Chicago, 111. SPECIAL TO SCHOOL OFFICERS. Your attention is called to the fact that the best School Desks and apparatus are absolutely necessary to successful teaching. THE AUTOMATIC SCHOOL SEAT Is without doubt the best. It is the ONLY SELF-FOLDING SEAT In the market. An introduction invariably leads to an adoption. T. Ruddiman Johnston's Maps. Monroe's Reading- Charts. Parker's Arithmetical Charts. Webster's Unabridged Dictionary — Latest Edition. Sirartha Physiological Charts. A full line of Registers and Records. Globes and Tellurians. In fact eveeything in the way op School Supplies. Write us for terms and depend upon prompt reply. Any orders sent us voluntarily will be filled subject to approval in quality and price. Union School Furniture Co., 178 Wabash Ave., Chicago. SUPERINTENDENTS, SCHOOL OFFICERS AND TEACHERS REQUIRING SCHOOL STATIOIERY! Teachers' Registers, Clerks' and Treasurers' Eecords, Class Eecords, Examination Papers, Eeport Cards, Examination Records, Promotion Cards, Classification Eecords, Diplomas, School Dis- trict Bonds, Eolls of Honor, Programmes, Order Books, Schedules, Term Eeports, Exercise Papers, etc., in great variety, and con- forming to the legal requirements in each State, included in the kk RED LINE SERIES." Let us know what you want and Send for Samples and Estimates. DONOHUE & HENNEBERRY, 407 to 425 Dearborn St., Chicago. McCULLOUGH'S County Outline Map of Illinois SHOWS EXACT LIMITS OF THE THREE U. S. SURVEYS IN ILLINOIS, Teaches the Civil Government of Illinois, both as an independent state and in its re- lation to the United States : gives most clearly the towns, rivers, boundaries rail- roads, soil, productions, surface, climate, inhabitants, industries, geology, geogra- phy, and history; can be seen and undebstood across a lakge eoom, and is mounted on heavy cloth, varnished, and provided with good strong rollers, so that it is in the most durable shape. Its value to any school or teacher can scarcely be estimated, and it is worth many times the price— $5.00. Send all orders to N. N. McCULLOUGH, Springfield, 111. PromE. A. G-astman, Sup't City Schools, Decatur, 111. : "I have purchased of Mr. N. N. McCollough copies of his Illinois map and also of our (Macon) county map. They seem to me to be excellent for use in our schools simply because they show just the things it is worth while to teach and nothing else. They are not crowded with irrelevant matter. I heartily commend them to the careful attention of teachers and school officers." From F. R. Feitshans, Sup't City Schools, Springfield, 111. : "Mr. MoCullough's Outline Maps of Illinois and of Sangamon County seem to me excellently adapted for teaching geography. No teacher, in my opinion, can do very good work in geo- graphy without some such aids. We have in use in every school in this city the State and County Maps as prepared by Mr. MeCullough. They meet the wants of our schools and the teachers like them." From John Trainer. County Sup't Schools of Macon Co., 111. ' 'Our teachers like your outline maps very much. We are all of the opinion that the maps needed most are those containing simply the outUnes of our manual work ; this is all we need upon any map; the reference maps are contained in our atlases. I hope you will continue to supply these maps, as they are just what we want." From A. J. Smith, County Sup't Schools of Sangamon Co., 111. : "I concur fully in the views and statements of Mr. Trainer, and repeat for Sangamon county teach- ers what he has said of Macon county teachers." ILIiIITOIS: ITS HISTOEY, CIVIL GOVEENMENT, GEOGEAPHY, MAP DEAWING, AND U. S. SUEVEYS OF THE STATE EEOM THE OEIGINAL EECOEDS, TOGETHEE WITH HISTOEICAL NOTES AND COPIOUS MAP EXEECISES. By N. N. McCuLLOUGH, Springfield, Illinois. Price, T-wrenty-Five Cents. From J. A. Goding, Co. Sup't of Schools of Mercer County: "1 have examined your little book 'Illinois.' with great satisfaction. I find nothing in it that cannot be used by any teacher in his school with the best results." "IT COVERS THE WORK CALLED FOR IN OUR MANUAL." "I BOUGHT IT FOR THE CIVIL GOVERNMENT." Address, N. N. McCULLOUGH, Springfield, 111. N. N. MeCullough, Springfield, 111., also gives prompt attention to all orders by mail or otherwise for School Officers' Books and Blanks, Maps, Globes, Reading Charts, Physiological Charts, Teachers' Desks, School Furniture, Blackboards, Reference Books, Dictionaries, and everything for schools ; Teachers' Supplies and Professional Books and Papers. I. SHELDON'S ARITHMETICS, IN T"WO BOOKS. The Elements of Arithmetic and the Complete Arithmetic. As Prof. Beard, of the State Normal School, Pa., says: "This Series combines the best features of others, loithout their faults." II. SHELDON'S ALGEBRAS. The Elementary and Complete Algebra. This is not a'J-book series of Algebras, as the Complete and Elementary Algebra are the same, page for page, as far as the Elementary goes. These Algebras are simple and clean cut. with fresh and attractive examples. SHELDON'S W^ORB STUDIES. Bound in full cloth, 196 pages. Introductory price, 25 cents. The title of this book indicates its precise scope and purpose. Enterprising teach- ers will hail with joy the aid which this book brings to their arduous work of pre- paration for oral instruction. SHELDON'S SUPPLEMENTARY READING. , Book Third now ready. 196 pages. Introductory price, 38 cents. It is intended in this book to give accurate and pleasing information, on subjects about which the child must study at a later date. Supt. S. A. Ellis, of Rochester, New York, says of it: "While packed with inform- ation that should be in the possession of every child, it is given in a style at once attractive and interesting." SHELDOl^l'S MODERN SCHOOL READERS, in Five Books. These readers were prepared with the greatest care, and the lower books were submitted to the test of actual use in the school room by a large number of teachers before being offered for sale. As a result, the books were as nearly perfect as it was possible to make them when first published. For six years the best talent which could be secured east or west has been en- gaged in preparing a series of text-books, which should have the ineritorious fea- tures of all the best series and at the same time avoid their faults. The above series is the result of these labors. I. Patterson's Elements of Grammar and Composition. 226 pages, bound in full cloth. Introductory price, 50 cents. II. Patterson's Advanced Grammar and Elements of Rhetoric. Bound in cloth, half leather, just published. This book will be pubUshed in April or May at the latest. Fattersoa's Elements of Grammar combines the merits of the "language lesson" system with the methods of technical grammar, and contains the essence of the best methods of the best grammarians. It is a book which charms both teacher and pupil and makes the study of grammar delightful instead of wearisome. The Advanced Grammar is supplemented with a chapter of about one hundred pages, giving the more important principles of Rhetoric, with exercises, and fully meeting the requirements of the ordinary High School or Academic Course. OUR HIGHER BOOKS. I. Shaw's New History of English and American Literature, Revised Edition. Shaw's Specimens of English Literature. Shaw's Specimens of American Literature. II. Avery's First Principles of Natural Philosophy. Avery's Elements of Natural Phi- losophy. Avery's Elements of Cmemistry. Avery's Complete Chemistry, em- bracing Organic Chemistry. III. Hill's Elements of Rhetoric and Composition. Hill's Science of Rhetoric. Hill's Elements of Logic. IV. Olney's New Geometry. Haven's Mental Philosophy. Wayland's Chapin's Political Economy. Chapin's First Principles of Political Economy. Alden's Science of Government. Palmer's Elements of Book-keeping. Long's Classical Atlas. Send for Circulars, Catalogue and Propositions. SHELDON & CO., New York and Chicago. The National System and the Standard of American Penmanship. -IN BANK IN COST LEADING THE ADVANCE. CHEAP AS THE CHEAPEST. Specimen copies free on application. WHOLESALE PRICES. V. D. i^S. Copybooks, large series 96 cents per dozen. P. D. & S. Copybooks, primary series 72 cents per dozen. P. D. & S. Copybooks, pencil series 45 cents per dozen. This system has been expressly prepared for schools of all grades, and compre- hends everything required for the convenience of the teacher and needs of the pupil. For general practice three distinct series of large sized Copybooks are offered, eack carefully graded, and intended for use as indicated in the subjoined list: COMMON SCHOOL SERIES B USINESS SERIES LADIES SERIES' IN SEVEN BOOKS, IN THREE BOOKS, IN THEEE BOOKS, P.D.&S.— Nos. l,2,3,4,4}i,5,6. P.D.&S.— Nos. 7, 11, 12. P.D. & S.— Nos. 8, 9, W And a Book of Ali)habets. For the use of primary and intermediate pupils, three additional and separate series have been provided, from which selections may be made to meet all practical requirements in graded or mixed schools : PRIMAR Y SHORT CO TTRSE PRIMAR Y TRA CING PENCIL SERIES IN SIS BOOKS, IN TWO BOOKS, IN SIX BOOKS, P.D.&S.-lJ2,2i3,3iA,4,5,6, P.D.&S.-Nos. 1, 2, P.D. &S.-A,B, C,D,E,F. Without Tracing. Graded Tracing. A and B Tracing. o Language Tablets for Supplementary Work in fifteen numbers. Number Tablets for Supplementary Work in Arithmetic. Algebra Tablets in three numbers. Bookkeeping Tablets in two numbers, one each on Single and Double Entry- Bartholomew's National System of Industrial Drawing. Webb's New Word Method. Howard's two-book series of Arithmetics. BLANKS FOR WRITTEN SPELLING. Dinsmore's Graded Series— Elementary, 24 pages, two columns, 9C0 words. Model Script, 36 pages, two columns, 1,440 words. " " " Number 1, words, 24 pages, three columns, 1,800 words. Number 2, words and definitions, 24 pages. Number 3, words, definitions and sentences, 24 pages. Mc Vicar's New Graded Series— Number 1, for words; Number 2, for words and defi- nitions. Number 3, for words ; Number 4, for words. " " " Number 5, single ruled; Number 6, double ruled for Avords and definitions. EEMAEK.— Complete Catalogue of publications, price list, sample copies and terms for introduction forwarded on application. Correspondence solicited. BOSTON. CHICAGO. NEW YORK. —18 m HE mi PI m iUilrilj ES. lYisoN, Blakeman & Company, publishers. New York and Chicago. A FULL LIST OF STANDAED TEXT-BOOKS FOR SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES Comprising the Works of such Authors as JAMES D. DANA, ASA GEAY, LEEOY COOLEY, WILLIAM SWINTON, DANIEL W. FISH, AENOLD GUYOT, EZRA M. HUNT, DE. WILLIAM THAYEE SMITH, SIMON KEEL, W. K. WELLS, DAVID A. WELLS, AND MANY OTHERS. Neiu boohs are being constantly added and our list lis alivays replete luith Standard boohs on every subject. Correspondence is solicited, and catalogues sent to any address on application. lYISON, BLAKEMAN & CO,, PUBLISHERS. 753 & 755 Broadway, NEW YORK. 149 Wabash Avenue, CHICAGO. GINN «& COMPANY, PUBLISHEKS OF L 180 WABASH AVE., CHICAGO. Elementary English, Higher English, Old and Middle English, Latin, Greek, Mathematics, Nat. Science, Music, History, Philosophy, Modern Languages, Sanscrit, Political Science, Geographies, Maps and Globes. SEND FOR CATALOGUE. FIRM AS THE EVERLASTING HILLS. APPLETON'S SCHOOL READERS. BY Wm. T. Hakes, LL. D., Sup't of Schools, St. Louis, Mo. A. J. EiCKOFF, A. M.. Sup't of Instruction. Cleveland, Ohio. Mark Bailey, A. M., Instructor in Elocution, Yale College. *'THE ORIGINATORS QV' THE 'NEW METHOD.'" 'THE LEADERS OF ALL." The following are among the principal cities in which Appleton's Eeadeks are now successfully used: CITY OF NEW YORK. City of Philadelphia. City of Chicago. City of Brooklyn. City of Cleveland. City of Jersey City. City of Omaha, Neb. City of Patterson, N. J. City of Kansas City, Mo. City of Hoboken, N. J. City of Atlanta, Ga. City of Poughkeepsie, N.Y. City of Syracuse, N.Y. City of Oakland, Cal. City of Detroit, Mich. And many hundreds of other cities and towns throughout the country. JUST POBLISHED. A COMPANION FIRST READER By M. J. WOOD. A valuable book for use in primary classes, furnishing additional reading matter for pupils in first- reader grades. As its title indicates, it is designed as a companion to the first book of any regular series, but was prepared with special reference to Appleton's First Reader. It contains no illustrations, all the space being given to reading-matter. PHYSIOLOGY . M\ um T nrn , Or, Th.e Human. Body, and How to Take Care of It. 11 u LI I L J An Elementary Course in Anatomy, Physiology and Hygiene. By James Johonnot, Eugene Bouton, Ph.D., and Henry D. Didama, M. D. A text-book thoroughly adapted to elementary instruction in the public schools, giving special attention to the laws of Hygiene (including the effects of alcohol and narcotics upon the human system) as ascertained from a careful study of Anatomy and Physiology. SIppleton's latest issdes.^= AP PLETON'S NEW ARITHMETICS. Two volumes. I. NUMBERS ILLUSTRATED. In Language, Drawing, and Reading Lessons. An Ai'ithmetic for Primary Schools. By Andrew J. Eickofif and E. C. Davis. Retail price. 42 cents. II. NUMBERS APPLIED. A complete Arithmetic for all grades. By Andrew J. Rickoff. Retail price, 87 cents. APPLETON'S PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. Prepared on a new and original plan by a corps of scientific specialists, present- ing an array of talent never before united in the making of a single text- book. The greatest work of the kind ever issued. Introduction price, S1.60. Descriptive Catalogue, Special "Educational Notes." Circulars. Price-list, etc., mailed free on application. D. APPETON «& COMPANY, PUBLISHERS, ISiEWYORK. BOSTON. CHICAGO. ATLANTA. SAN FRANCISCO. DIXON'S AMERICAN GRAPHITE PENCILS. These superb pencils have proved to be so eminently superior, that they have come to be regarded tlie best in the market for school and business purposes. They are endorsed by the leading teachers of drawing, by artists, by accountants, and by innumerable experts in the use of pencils throughout the United States. Teachers and scholars who have once used the Dixon pencils want no others. They are almost universally used in the New England. New York State and Pennsylvania schools, and are being rapidly adopted in all parts of the country by school officers. Where the Dixon pencils are not familiar we shall be pleased to send samples free ■of I charge to any school officer interested. Our Complete G-rade Stamps are as follows, viz.: Similar grade to the European Stamp of V V S— Very, very soft (B B B) V S— Very soft (B B) S-Soft (B and No. ].) S M— Soft medium (H B and No. 2.) M B— Medium black (F) M— Medium (H and No. 3.) M H— Medium hard (H H) H-Hard (H H H and No. 4.) V H-Veryhard (H H H H and No. 5.) "V V H— Very, very hard (H H H H H H) JOS. DIXON CRUCIBLE CO. JERSEY CITY, N. J. OUR COUNTRY AND VILLAGE SCHOOLS The Pioneer Journal in the WorJc of Grading jRural Schools. The publication of Oue Country and Village Schools began in 1879, and in three years it has so won the public favor as to be given a national footing. Among the reasons for the marked popularity of this Journal with country and village teachers may be mentioned the following: I. It started as the Journal exponent of Graded Work in the Rural Schools and is therefore the Pioneer in this great revolution. II. It is distinctively a Journal for the Country and the Village Teacher. III. It has always been supported by a corps of writers immediately con- nected with the rural schools. IV. Each issue during term time gives pages of suggestive help for the wovk the teacher is then doing:. With Our Country and Villac^e Schools in hand, and some course of study, teachers And they secure the following direct results : 1. Thorough organization of the schools. 2. A practical classification of the pupils. 3. Fewer classes, more time for the recitation and consequent better work. 4. Parents become interested and pupils attend more regularly and continue in school longer. 5. The teacher's tenure of office is stronger. He stays longer in the same school and at better pay. SUBSCRIPTION $1.00 PER YEAR. Address OUR COUNTRY AND VILLAGE SCHOOLS, Decatur, III. IHE ULII This is a monthly magazine, edited by Geo. P. Brown, and published at JBloomington, 111. It maintains the following de- partments : Pedagogics, Higher Schools, Primari/ Schools, Inter- mediate and Rural Schools, and Supervision. It is devoted to the THEORY AND ART OF SCHOOL TEACHING. Terms $1.50 per annum. - - - Clubs of Four, $5.O0, "It is the strongest school journal that comes to me, and my table is covered with them." — Supt. 0. T. Bright, Engle- wood (Chicago). "It seems to me that it is the best educational paper in the West."^Prin, D. Meade, Danville, Illinois. "The Journal is destined to become the leading educational paper in the West." — Supt. John Cooper, Leavenworth, Kan. "I must congratulate the profession on your mode of con- ducting a school journal." — Pres. J. H. Hoose, Cortland, N. Y. "You are making a first-class paper every way. It is meaty, philosophical and inspiring." — Pres. Wm. E. Sheldon, Boston, Mass. "You are making the best school journal in the United States." Wm. A. Bell, Editor of Indiana School Journal. Address ILLINOIS SCHOOL JOURNAL, Bloomington, III, Geo. p. Beown, Editor. Current Events in School. Our children ought to take an interest in the current affairs of the day and be well informed in them as well as in books. It is surprising how much a good clean newspaper adds to the interest m school and the intelligence of pupils. THE WEEK'S CURRENT Is the paper you want in your school. Decatur, 111. 80 Copies. Supt. E. A. Gastman says: We have used The Week's Current from its beginning, in the upper grammar and high school classes. The teachers com- mend it in the strongest terms and the pupils enjoy it greatly. "Excellent" is the verdict of all of us. TERMS: Single copy one year (40 weeks) $1 00 10 copies or more one year (40 weeks) each 75 20 copies or more, each 60 Send ten cents for 10 specimen copies. Address E. O. VAILE, Oak Park, (Chicago) 111. Editor of Intellig 'nee, etc. Drawing Books for Public Schools. AMERICAN TEXT BOOKS OF ART EDUCATION. PUBLISHED BY THE PRANG EDUCATIONAL COMPANY. BOSTON. NEW YOEK. CHICAGO. A complete system carefully graded. Teachers' Manuals for each grade, with full and explicit directions for each day's work. Every teacher can learn how to teach deawing by STUDYING THE PRANG MANUALS. PBANG'S SHORTER COURSE IN DRAWING, for SMALL TOWNS AND COUNTRY SCHOOLS. Specially prepared to meet the wants of schools where the introduction of the complete course would not be feasible. The course comprises Five Drawing Books and a Teacher's Manual. Prangs Models for Teaching: Dra-wing.— Espe,cially|de- signed for Teaching Drawing from objects in Primary and Grammar Schools. Prang's Aids for Object Teaching.— Large Wall charts, including illustrations of the Animal Kingdom, Ethnograph- ical, Geographical, and Zoological Charts. Prang's Natural History Series for Schools. Prang's Trades and Occupations. Prang's School Pencils. ^ „ ^, ^. , ^ ^ , ,, Pran-^'s School Compasses. For further particulars or Catalogue address HAROLD SMITH, Manager, ' • '79 Wabash Ave., Chicago. ffortliy tlie Attention of Every Teaclier and Scliool Officer. Anderson's Ne>v U. S. History, Anderson's General History* Hutchison's Physiology and Hygiene, Hutchison's First Ijessons in Physiolcgy. Thomson's Commercial Arithmetic, Thomson's Practical Algebra. Thomson's Complete Graded Arithmetic, Thomson's First Lessons in Arithmetic. English Classics, Shakespeare Plays. AN ANCIENT SPELL, BY WILL CARLETON. There they stood, like young globe-batters, with no salary enriched. Waiting for the words momentous that the dextrous teacher pitched ; And he hurled the first one at them, like a nicely twisted ball. While the catcher just behind them was the horny-handed wall; And the first boy struck and missed it, and his face was deeply vexed, As the teacher scowled a cyclone, and vociferated '"next!" The complete poem will be mailed free of charge to teachers and school officers who send us their address. For the above works, Eeed's Word Lessons, and any other texts in the Keed & Kellogg Language Lessons, address CLARK & MAYNARD, Publishers, New York and Chicago, or , J. D. WILLIAMS, Catalogue free. 75 Wabash ave., Chicago. Springfield Business College, Located at the Capital of the State, in the Y. M. C. A. Building vantages to those who desire a thorough Business Education. offers superior ad- ^ A complete course of Business Training in all depart- ments in Book-keeping, Commercial Arithmetio, Penmanship, Commercial Paper, Commercial Law, Civil Government. ^^,„.«t,»i ACTUAL BUSINESS PRACTICE^ unsurpassed. All Common School Branches taught. Short Hand and Type Writing Department, Students have the advantage of Gymnasium, Bath Rooms and Free Public Library, all in same building. We solicit correspondence with graduates of High Schools and with those who have attended common District Schools only. For Catalogue apply to BOGARDXJS & CHICKEN, Proprietors. WEBSTER'S UNABRIDGED. "A LIBRARY IIS^ ITSELF' Your ATTENTION" is invited to the fact that ia purchasing the latest issue of this work you get A DICTIONARY Containing 118,000 Words, and 3,000 Engravings, A GAZETTEER OF THE WORLD Locating and describing 25,000 Places, (recently added), and A BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY Of nearly 10,000 Noted Persons ; also various tables ALL IN ONE BOOK. It has 3,000 more words in its vocabulary than are found in any other American Dictionary, nearly three times the number of Engravings. In quantity of matter, it is believed to be the largest volume pubUshed, being sufficient to make 75 12-mo volumes that usually sell for ^1.25 each. It will answer thousands of auestions to the wide-awake child. It is an ever- present and reliable School-master to Ihe whole Family.— /S. ;S. Herald. Webster is Standard Authority in the Gov't Printing Office, and with the U. S. Supreme Courtt and is recommended by the State Superintendents of Schools In 36 States, and by leading College Presidents of the U. S. and Canada. All the Leading Series of School Books published in this country are based upon "Webster, the acknowledged Standard of the English Language. SPECIMEN TESTIMONIALS. Washington, D. C, January 12,1882. I always use Webster's Dictionary the first of any, and rarely find myself under the necessity of going further. It is recognized as standard authority in the court over which I preside, and its usefulness increases as the successive editions appear. MORRISON E. WAITE, Chief Justice U. S. Supreme Court. GOVEKNMENT PKINTINa OFFICE WASHINGTON, D. C. Webster will continue to be the standaz-d in the use of the English language in this office. T. E. BENEDICT, FuMic Printer. Speingfield, III., February 4, 1887. For many years Webster has been constantly at hand in my study, and con- stantly used. It is an honor to the English language and to the American Nation. HON. RICHARD EDWARDS, State Sup't Fublic Instruction HI. Springfield, III., May 18. 1881. Webster's Unabridged Dictionary is constantly cited in our judicial decisions as a work of the highest acknowledged authority. Signed by all the Justices of the Supreme Court of Illinois. PUBLISHED BY G. & C. MERRIAM & CO., ■ SPRINGFIELD, MASS., U. S. A. — A Acid Phosphate, (LIQUID.) A preparation of the phosphates that is readily assimi- lated by the system. Especially recommended for Dyspepsia, Mental and Physical Exhaustion, Indigestion, Headache, Nervousness, Wakefulness, Impaired Vitality, Etc. Prescribed and endorsed by Physicians of all schools. It combines well with such stimulants as are necessary to take. It makes a delicious drink with water and sugar only. For sale by all druggists. Pamphlet free. Eumford Chemical Works, - Providence, R. I. BEWARE OF IMITATIONS. Standard Educational Series, HARPERS' GEOGRAPHIES . I. They are approved by the highest professional authorities. II. Tliey bear the test of the class-room. III. They are the cheapest. HARPERS' LANGUAGE SERIES. In Three Books. This system has been more extensively introduced throughout the United States than all other systems combined, and it has received the recognition of publication and wide adoption in Great Britain and in the Dominion of Canada. HARPERS' GRADED ARITHMETICS. A complete Course of Oral and Written Arithmetic. This series is based on com- mon sense methods. Recently adopted for exclusive use by the Delaware State Board of Education. HARRINGTON'S GRADED SPELLING-BOOK. "A vigorous and radical attack upon an old and vicious system in education. This book has attained unprecedented popularity. HARPERS' NEW GRADED COPY-BOOK S. An entirely New and Practical System of Penmanship. These copies are pre- pared by an expert penman, and embody the results of careful observation and much study during an experience of tiventy years, as teacher of Public Schools and Business Colleges. They are, beyond douM, the most practical Copy Books ever presented to the Public. SWINTON'S STUDIES IN ENGLISH LITERATURE. It is a series of studies in the masters of English, from Shakespeai'e to the pres- ent time. The authors chosen are not only of the first rank, but they also represent epochs of literature, marked phases of style, distinctive contribu- tions to literary method. ROLFE'S ENGLISH CLASSICS. For Schools and Colleges. This series is now complete in forty volumes. It is the only illustrated school edition in the world. THE PRINCIPLES OF RHETORIC. By Adams S. Hill, Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory in Harvard College. A New Edition has recently been issued, containing an Index of the Authors Quoted. Je@= Haepee & Beothees ijublish a full series of school and college text-hooks, which will be furnished on liberal terms. We cordially invite all Teachers and School Officers contemplating changes in text-books to correspond with us before making a selection. All suchletters will receive our prompt and careful attention. HAHPEE, & BROTHERS, Publishers, New York. W. J. BUTTON, 255 & 257 Wabash Avenue, Chicago, 111. General Western Agent for the Introduction of Harper & Brothers' Educational Works. ECLECTIC EDUCATIONALSERIES. The text-books of the Eclectic Series are more largely used than any others published. Following are some of the lead- ing common school text- books of this series. McGuffei/ s Revised Beadei's, Hay's New Arithmetics, Harvey's Revised Gramma,rs, New Eclectic Geograpliies, Histories, Copy Boohs, Draiving Boohs, etc. The publishers offer special rates on supplies for first intro- duction. Address them for Proposition of Exchange nd In- troduction rates. Following are some of the latest publications of the .ijclectic Series ; single specimen copies sent postpaid by mail on receipt of the introduction price annexed : Eclectic Guide to Health (Temperance Physiology) . f .60 The House I Live In (Primary Physiology) 30 Morris's Scripture Eeadings 60 McGuffey's Word Lists. 10 White's Pedagogy, {mailing price) 1.17 White's Monthly Record, by mail 48 Palmer's Science of Education, by mail 1.17 Eclectic German Readers (descriptive circular and prices on application.) ALTERNATE AND SUPPLEMENTARY READING. McGuffey's Alternate First Reader | .15 McGuffey's Alternate Second Reader 25 McGuffey's Alternate Third Reader 35 McGuffey's Alternate Fourth Reader 40 McGuffey's Alternate Fifth Reader (in prepara- tion) — McGuffey's Alternate Sixth Reader (in prepara- tion) — McGuffey's Alternate Readers furnish additional reading where such reading matter is desired, alternating with any series in use. They may also be used independently, as a regular series. The selections are new, instructive and inter- esting. The clear type and ample illustrations render the books attractive, while the price is low. VAN fiNTWERP, BRAGG & CO., PUBLISHERS, : CINCINNATI, OHIO. . ^^wm: .^:^'"^ ?v?^=':»i, '' . '^ . ■■' .^^<>. „ ■"h o'* v^*.^ ^*. \^ ■•> ?> x..# %::d^ ^>>■ -.. \ ci- •^ 1/ ,;?"%> M ^'^^ \\ V I 6 N^^ "^^^ Oo, .0- ■^^f- .^^^ o 0'' x'^' ■ ^ ^■^ o 0' -I -7*, ^>^^ ^^ v^^ ,00. -i\ ■^ j^/^^^- ,0 o^ ^ ■"oo^ r^'-^^wi'-^ "-^ V ^ ^,#f/^ A ' 'J ^ - V \^^ .0 o. 0^ c>' \'^ ^.^-